Manila Standard - 2017 March 04 - Saturday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 22 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SECURING SAFETY. A man pulls out at random a fire extinguisher for a test before selling it to customers at a fire extinguisher store in Santa Cruz, Manila as the country marks Fire Prevention Month, promoted to provide education and awareness to lessen the incidence of fire in the Philippines, with up to 10,000 fire incidents nationwide every year. Norman Cruz

Gag Leila, court urged ‘Drug lords behind destab plot’

DoJ accuses her lawyers of trying to condition the minds of public

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE Justice Department has asked the Muntinlupa City regional trial court to issue a gag order to prevent all parties from discussing the cases filed against Senator Leila de Lima in public because doing so would be sub judice.

Under the sub judice rule, a case under judicial consideration may not be discussed in public, particularly in the media.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong said the gag

order would cover De Lima and her lawyers, government prosecutors, the other accused and their lawyers, as well as his boss, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

De Lima and several others are facing charges for violating several provisions of the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002 for the narcotics trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

“We are not allowed to talk while the case is pending,” Ong said.

Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Leilia Llanes backed Ong’s manifestation, saying De Lima’s lawyers were conditioning the minds of the public that the case filed against the accused are weak.

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Army, ASG clash; 17 wounded

By Francisco Tuyay and Florante S. Solmerin

PATERNAL BEAM. President Rodrigo Duterte visits his newborn grandson, Marco Digong, nicknamed Stonefish, Thursday night at the Davao Doctors Hospital, the third child of presidential daughter Sara Duterte with husband Manases Carpio of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Sarah was pregnant with triplets but lost two to miscarriage.

Bong Go SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano claimed Friday that some drug lords were financing a destabilization plot against President Rodrigo Duterte to protect their illegal business.

Cayetano, a staunch Duterte ally, said he had no specific information and could not drop names but he knew about a destabilization plot as early as during Duterte’s presidential campaign.

“I do not know what specifically the drug lords are financing, what I am saying is it is part of a plan of organized crime to use their money so that they can continue their business and get rid of Duterte,” Cayetano told reporters.

He said there was “pending money” to get rid of the President although he was “not at liberty” to talk about it.

SSS ready to release extra P1k

With or without Gina, mining review pushed

THE beneficiaries of the Social Security System may now withdraw the P1,000 increase in their monthly pensions, SSS Chairman Amado Valdez told GMA News on Friday.

He said the increase was retroactive, so that the 2.2-million SSS pensioners would get a total of P3,000 this month: P1,000 on March 3 for January, P1,000 on March 7 for February, and another Next page

By Julito G. Rada THE Mining Industry Coordinating Council will spend P50 million to conduct an objective, factfinding, and science-based review of the performance of existing mine operations, In a briefing after the second council meeting on Friday, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who co-chairs the MICC, said the fund would come from the Budget department.

“An estimated budget of P50

He slammed the politicians and human rights group that he said were also taking part in the destabilization efforts against Duterte.

For instance, he said, the act of Senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV calling Duterte a “dictator, mass murderer and plunderer” was part of the destabilization plot despite their denial.

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million will be requested by the DoF from the DBM for the conduct of the review,” Dominguez said. He said according to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the P50 million would come from the department’s contingency fund.

Dominguez said the review should be completed within three months and initially cover the 28 mines that were recommended for closure or suspension by Environment Secretary Next page Regina Lopez.

A GRANDSON of Abu Sayyaf Group leader Radullan Sahiron was critically wounded in a gun battle after security forces chanced upon a huge contingent of heavily armed bandits in the jungles in Sulu Friday morning, military officials said.

Ground commanders in Sulu, however, said they were still verifying the report.

So far, at least 17 Army soldiers have been wounded in daylong fighting that erupted at 9 a.m. on the outskirts of Patikul, Sulu, a known lair of the terrorist group.

The fierce battle was still raging between some 120 members of the ASG terrorist led by its leader Sahiron and elite Army Scout Ranger forces in Sitio Kan Udong in Barangay Iigasan.

Army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao Jr. said the intense

Death bill debate: No restraints

clashes broke out after troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion and 1st Infantry Division under Lt. Col. Ernesto Flores encountered about 120 ASG rebels under Sahiron and sub-leaders Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan and Almuher Yadah.

Some 14 soldiers were hurt and brought to Camp Teodulfo Bautista Trauma Hospital for treatment.

Hao said the soldiers suffered shrapnel wounds.

Next page PALLIATING PAIN. A military officer visits a soldier, wounded after a clash with the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group, at a military hospital in Sulu on Thursday, following a clash between troops and Islamist militants behind the beheading of a German hostage. AFP

By Macon RamosAraneta and Maricel V. Cruz THE majority and minority blocs in the Senate on Friday assured the public there would be “full-blown, no-restraints” debates on the death penalty bill.

Discussions on the revival of capital punishment will not be abbreviated, said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.

“It has never been the Senate’s tradition to curtail the airing of ideas,” Recto said.

“That has been the way bills are made in the Senate. They go Next page

Rice shortage feared

By Rio N. Araja FARMERS’ groups from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao said Friday they feared a shortfall in the supply of rice would occur if the National Food Authority fails to allow the entry of eight

million bags of rice from Thailand and Vietnam.

Edwin Paraluman, a member of the Philippine Farmers’ Advisory Board and a member of the NFA Council, said Administrator Jason Laureano Aquino had Next page

News

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The series of skirmishes with the Abu Sayyaf flared up after security forces launched a rescue mission for 70-year-old German hostage Jurgen Kantner, but the victim was beheaded by the bandits on Sunday after his family failing to come up with the P30- million ransom demanded for his release.

The beheading of Kantner prompted government forces to conduct a search and destroy operations against the ASG. There were still no reports of casualties on the Abu Sayyaf side.

The encounter came after the Wednesday firefight in Indanan town where the military reported five terrorists killed and 11 soldiers wounded.

The military continues to search for a strategy to defeat the handful of Muslim terrorists that banded together towards the end of year 2000.

The military claims the ASG’s strength could be more or less 400 men. The terrorists are involved in high-profile kidnapping of foreign and local tourists including tourists and sailors from Malaysia and Indonesia.

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He said the review would be in accordance with the existing guidelines and parameters set forth in the specific mining contracts and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations.

The review would be carried out by the technical review team and cover technical, legal, social, environmental, and economic aspects of mining operations.

“The review shall refer and take off from existing reports [audit report and checklists] prepared and developed by the DENR audit team and technical review committee, including multi-partite monitoring team reports, company quarterly reports submitted to the MGB, and minutes of the exit conference,” Dominguez said.

He said ocular inspections might also be conducted, if deemed necessary, by the technical review team and if funds permit.

“The council will then present or submit the findings of the review to the Office of the President, which shall render final decision on the orders issued by the DENR,” Dominguez said.

An adhoc review management unit and five technical review teams will be organized to manage and undertake the review. The RMU will manage the review through provision of office space, provide administrative and financial services, hire individual experts, and consolidate documents and reports for submission to the council.

The members of the technical review teams will be composed of qualified, certified or licensed persons in their field of expertise and experienced in mining operations. They must be independent and have no known conflicts of interest.

Dominguez said each technical review team might conduct the review individually and they would be compensated based on the number of reports reviewed [per mine], that should be completed in seven calendar days. The compensation will be subject to the regular government accounting and auditing procedures.

Dominguez added that the review of mining firms would push through whether or not the appointment of Lopez is confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Earlier, Dominguez said “the position I support is the position of President [Rodrigo] Duterte, which is we must follow due process when we are dealing with all kinds of activities.”

“We must honor our contracts and we must behave as a government that is responsible. That is the only position I support,” Dominguez said.

The Finance chief said many of the municipalities hosting the mine sites ordered shut down or suspended by the DENR relied heavily on the taxes and other fees paid by mining firms.

The DENR ordered last Feb. 2 the closure of 23 mine sites and the suspension of operations of five others across the country. A week later, it ordered the cancellation of 75 mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) still in the pre-operation stage that the government had forged with mining companies.

Duterte visits wake of two slain soldiers in C. de Oro C AGAYAN DE ORO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte arrived at the Loyola Chapel inside the Camp Evangelista Army Camp here past 6 p.m. Friday to pay his last respects to two soldiers who were killed in the line of duty and also to condole with their families.

The slain soldiers were identified as Cpl. Marzon Morales, and Pvt. Oshin Rosala, both of the 58th Infantry Battalion, based in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.

The soldiers were killed and four others were wounded in a running gunbattle with the communist New People’s Army in Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental last Monday.

President Duterte first talked

to Aiza, the grieving wife of Morales, inside the Chapel where the President extended financial assistance and awarded a posthumous medal to the fallen soldier.

After talking with the widow, he proceeded to the coffin of Rosala and talked to the soldier’s mother. Rosala was still single.

The President also gave the posthumous medal to Rosala’s mother and extended to her fi-

nancial assistance.

From the chapel, Duterte proceeded to the Army Station Hospital to confer the military wounded medal to four other soldiers identified as Private First Class Marquin Rother Variacion, Private First Class Vincent Nino L. Lopez, Private Regie Joy Duyan and Private Ramon B. Balibagon.

Three more wounded soldiers who were earlier confined in the Army hospital were also conferred the military wounded medals.

Military officials said that the wounded government troopers were already in stable condition.

The clashes came in the wake of the NPA attacks on a power plant site and a plantation last

Gag...

Rules of Criminal Procedure, he said.

Other members of the prosecuting panel—Senior Assistant City Prosecutors Alexander Ramos, Leilia Llanes and Evangeline Viudez-Canobas; and Assistant State Prosecutor Editha Fernandez signed the motion.

“Justice and expediency demand that it is more practical and will serve the ends of justice to consolidate all three cases in the said branch to avoid unnecessary costs and to prevent the issuance of conflicting resolutions, orders and decisions,” the Justice Department motion said.

The three separate cases against De Lima were raffled off to RTC Branch 204 Judge Juanita Guerrero, Branch 205 Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz and Branch 206 Judge Patria Manalastas-De Leon.

The first count in Branch 204 also included De Lima’s former driver and lover Ronnie Dayan and National Bureau of Investigation deputy director Rafael Ragos as her co-accused.

On the other hand, De Lima is joined by her nephew Jose Adri-

an Dera in the second count in Branch 205.

Lastly, the third count in Branch 206 included former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Bucayu, his alleged bagman Wilfredo Elli, high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian, De Lima’s former bodyguard Jonel Sanchez, Dayan and Dera also as accused.

De Lima’s lawyer objected to the motion, saying the prosecutor wanted Guerrero to handle the three cases. ”We oppose because we feel they want Judge Guerrero to hear the case when we know that it was Guerrero who issued the warrant of arrest against Senator De Lima,” De Lima’s lawyer Lorelee Granado said.

Guerrero issued the arrest warrant on Feb. 23, while the two others decided to first hear De Lima’s motion.

De Lima on Friday warned President Rodrigo Duterte and his officials “who blindly enforce his illegal order to kill, fabricate evidence and concoct lies” will be held accountable in due time.

De Lima released a letter to the

spokesmen and other defenders of the President and Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, who deny the daily killings are state-sponsored.

“I say to you—stop insulting the intelligence, stop fooling the people and the rest of the world,” said De Lima who is detained at the PNP Custodian Center in Camp Crame over drug charges.

“As I keep on saying, truth has been the major casualty in the socalled war on drugs,” also said De Lima.

Opposition senators castigated anew President Duterfe for violating the people’s right to human dignity in his government’s war against illegal drugs.

Senator Risa Hontiveros condemned Duterte’s war on drugs as inhumane, abusive, and corrupt, and described it as “murder in the guise of law enforcement.”

Also on Friday, Liberal Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan asked Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III to return the Senate security of De Lima in Camp Crame.

“There should have been nego-

measures, women empowerment bills, the New Corporation Code, and anti-money laundering measures.

Recto believes that before the Senate tackles the business of state-sanctioned deaths, it must pass “life-improvement” measures first.

“Another predicate,” he said, is to improve and modernize law enforcement, prosecution service, the courts, and the prison system.

“If they have logistical needs, let’s fix and fund them first because justice is not about punishment alone.

The Committee on Justice recently started hearing proposals to restore the death penalty.

However, the public hearing was indefinitely suspended amid worries that the country might violate the Treaty of International Convention on Civil and Political Rights it signed in 1986.

The treaty prevents states from carrying out execution as a form of punishment.

Because of this, Aquino urged fellow lawmakers to confer with foreign affairs officials regarding international treaties in connection with death penalty reinstatement.

In the House, those who opposed the death penalty bill said they will not give up their fight

against the reimposition of capital punishment.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the opposition will remain unfazed by what they described as bullying tactic of the majority.

Lagman slammed Alvarez’s House leadership for “arrogantly absolving itself of its sins of suppressing the right of free expression and debate in its unconscionable haste in passing the death penalty bill on second reading by accusing the oppositors of bullying the majority.”

“Since when has a small authentic minority oppressed the ascendant majority?” Lagman said in a statement.

“It is the majority leadership that dictates, albeit with unreasonable alacrity, the tempo of the proceedings; it is the House leadership which interprets the rules, albeit arbitrarily; and it is the House leadership that stifles dissent,” Lagman said.

Lagman said the opposition— even if they are small in numbers—will not allow the House leadership to once again railroad the third reading proceedings in passing House Bill 4727 next week The House, through voice voting, approved on second reading Wednesday night House Bill 4727 or the bill seeking to reim-

pose death penalty on drug-related heinous crimes.

The proposed “Death Penalty Law” defines heinous crimes as “grievous, odious and hateful offenses, which by reason of their inherent or manifest wickedness, viciousness, atrocity and perversity are repugnant and outrageous to the common standards and norms of decency and morality in a just, civilized and orderly society.”

Under the measure, the punishment of death shall be imposed on the following offenses: 1) importation of dangerous drugs; 2) sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution, and transportation of dangerous drugs; 3) maintenance of a den, dive, or resort where any dangerous drug is used or sold; 4) manufacture of dangerous drugs; and 5) possession of 10 grams or more of dangerous drugs.

The death penalty shall also be enforced when the crime is committed under the influence of dangerous drugs, provided that the offense committed is punishable by reclusion temporal or 12 years and one day up to 20 years.

The penalty of death shall also not be imposed when the offender is below 18 years old or more than 70 years old, or when the crime was committed, a draft of the bill showed.

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“So if possible for both parties from prosecutor panel and the accused refrain from saying things that might affect the minds of the public,” she said.

De Lima’s lawyers said the judge has yet to rule on the gag order.

On Friday, government prosecutors sought to consolidate the three drug cases filed against De Lima.

In a motion filed before Muntinlupa City RTC, Branch 204, the prosecutors from the Justice Department moved for the consolidation of all three drug charges into one.

“Record shows that the cases arose from similar sets of facts; there are common parties and issues, and interrelated evidence will be presented in court,” Ong said.

He said the three cases could be tried jointly by one branch of the regional trial court in Muntinlupa City, according to the Revised

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through the filter provided by members. There’s no gag rule here. Everyone has the right to say his piece,” he said.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Paolo Benigno IV said the minority will play an active role in the debates and we will make sure that all perspectives will be given space in the Senate.

“Filipino lives are at stake here and most of them are poor,” he said.

Accordng to Recto, debates on proposals to restore capital punishment will be “tough” and thorough because the hardest vote for a legislator to cast is on bills that will “send men to war or to death.

Recto agreed with his fellow members’ observation that despite its approval in the House of Representatives, the death penalty bill will not be an “urgent priority measure” in the Senate.

The reason, he said , is that there are many good measures in the Senate pipeline which came ahead and must be disposed of first.”

These are the Free Public College bill, the creation of Coconut Industry Development Fund, the proposed Emergency Powers Act on the traffic crisis, tax break

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issued a memorandum saying the arrival period for the rice imports under the minimum access volume program would only take place from October 2016 until Feb. 28 this year.

“We do not see any reason why the NFA would not heed our valid request for an extension,” Paraluman said.

He talked of a possible rice shortage in Metro Manila and elsewhere that would jack up rice prices.

“The farmers’ cooperatives have already paid in advance the 35-percent tariff for every sack of rice [for eight million bags). They have just loaned the amount from various financing institutions,” Paraluman told reporters.

“Assuming the cost of one sack of rice is P1,000, it becomes P1,350 because of the tariff.”

The requesting farmers’ cooperatives could be disqualified or blacklisted if an extension for the entry of the eight million bags was not granted, Paraluman said.

William Saratao, a former NFA Council member and a leader of a farmers’ cooperative in Sultan Kudarat, appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to step into their complaint and heed their appeal for an extension of the rice entry period for 40 percent of the remaining 850,000 metric tons of imported rice until March 31.

“Yes, brace for a shortage in the supply of rice three months from now,” he said.

“We do not have enough rice supply. Such importation could boost the buffer stocks of the staple for the lean

Saturday in Bukidnon.

A report from the 4th ID said about 15 NPA fighters entered the compound of the proposed site for the 10.6-megawatt Pulanai hydroelectric power plant Barangay Lumbayao in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

The military said the suspects confiscated the cellphones of workers, then fired several shots after planting a couple of improvised explosive device at the compound.

A team from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal from the 8th Infantry Battalion was sent to go after the rebels.

Last December, President Duterte visited the site for power plant’s groundbreaking rites. In his speech, Duterte pleaded with

the NPA to spare the project from attacks.

The President said the Pulanai plant, owned and operated by Repower Energy Development Corp., is one of the power generation facilities seen to boost the economic activity in the area.

On the same day, another group of NPA rebels burned down two spray trucks owned

by Davao Agricultural Ventures Corp. (Davco) in Barangay Merangiran, Quezon town, Bukidnon.

Police investigators said the motive for the torching of the Davco equipment could be due to the company’s refusal to pay what the NPA called as “revolutionary tax” but what authorities considered as mere extortion. PNA tiations for the Office of the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms to come closer, and not be 50 meters away,” Pangilinan said.

On Wednesday night, Pimentel told Senate reporters that Senate security personnel has been removed from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center where De Lima is detained, as they were posted far from her cell and were thus “useless.”

The Senate security personnel wre pulled out on Monday.

The Liberal Party believes that De Lima has been arrested and detained to silence her as she has been a fierce critic of President Duterte from her time as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights during the Arroyo administration.

The government, on the other hand, has accused her of profiting from the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her time as Justice secretary.

De Lima has repeatedy denied the drug charges saying they were part of efforts of President Duterte to exact revenge against her for her sharp criticism of his policies, particularly the bloody war on drugs.

months.”

The rice importation is backed by a resolution approved by the NFA Council composed of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the National Economic and Development Authority, the NFA itself, the Department of Finance, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Land Bank of the Philippines and FBAP. But Paraluman questioned another NFA’s memorandum signed by Aquino allowing the entry of rice from Pakistan and India until March 31.

“The council has not approved the importation, therefore it is illegal,” he said.

Aquino was among the Army officers who were cleared for mutiny charges for the alleged Feb. 2006 coup d’ etat against then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

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“They say there’s no destabilization but on the other hand they want to oust the President. If that is not destabilization then what is?” Cayetano said.

He said human rights groups and politicians should “separate” their political agenda from their advocacies.

“There is a different intention in improving the police enforcement and there is a different target to oust the President. These are different objectives but they go together,” Cayetano said.

He said he does not blame human rights groups from advocating a “more humane” approach to the illegal drugs campaign but it should not mix with politics.

He cited human rights groups’ concern over De Lima’s arrest and detention making it seem like the President himself was behind it.

“Are they now saying our courts are under Duterte and we have a dictatorship? The style of the group of De Lima and Trillanes is to weaken the court system and make it appear to the international community that there is no law and order in the Philippines,” Cayetano said. “[The] problem with human rights group is they’re involving themselves in politics.” PNA

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P1,000 on March 10 for March.

“We have already given the order to release the additional pension,” Valdez said.

He said the pensioners should consult their depository banks if the additional pension was not reflected in their accounts.

“The banks are very efficient, so a pensioner who has any complaint should talk to the manager of his depository bank,” Valdez said.

The SSS, the state-run pension fund for private sector employees, has yet to finalize a higher monthly contribution from members as part of the

measures to finance the pension increase and prolong the system’s actuarial life.

Valdez said the Government Service Insurance System-the fund for government employees―applies a rate of 21 percent of the salary base for the monthly contributions.

The P1,000 additional benefit for SSS pensioners was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on Jan 10. while the order authorizing the release was signed on Feb 22.

The SSS earlier estimated that around P6.9 billion was allotted for the release of the additional P1,000 benefit for the first quarter alone. This is on top of the P7.4 billion released per month since January 2017 for regular benefits.

News IN BRIEF Du30 appoints Garcia, Chavez to rails sector PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday made two new appointments to the rails sector of the Department of Transportation.

Retired Army Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, a former Director for Operations of the Metro Rail Transit-3 during the time of Gen. Reynaldo Berroya, was named as general manager, replacing Roman Buenafe, who resigned from his post after more than a year of dealing with technical problems bugging the rail line.

Garcia is not the former vice chief of staff of the AFP, as was reported in other news reports, the Transportation department said.

Buenafe earlier admitted that MRT operations had never been normal since he was appointed in January 2015.

Meanwhile, former Light Rail Transit Authority Deputy Administrator and Manila Broadcasting Co. vice president Cesar Chavez was promoted to Undersecretary for Rails, replacing Noel Kintanar.

Chavez was first appointed as Assistant Secretary for Rails when Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade took office.

Kintanar earlier resigned, citing his decision “to give Secretary Tugade a free hand in addressing any and all misconceptions or doubts as to the impartiality and independence of the DOTr in addressing the many issues and concerns on transportation.”

John Paolo Bencito

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SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House panel considers anti-discrimination bill

By Maricel V. Cruz

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PANEL in the House ot Representatives has approved the creation of a technical working group that will consolidate several measures seeking to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, language, disability, and human immunodeficiency virus status.

At a congressional hearing, Amin party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, the House committee on human rights vice chairperson, said the panel members agreed to the TWG

creation for the consolidation of the anti-discrimination bills which aim to strengthen the protection of the rights and privileges of Filipinos.

For consolidation are House

Bills 79, 491, 576, 1556, 3312, 3468, 3541 and 3895, seeking to prohibit discrimination on different bases.

Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero, one of the bill’s authors, said the provisions of her proposed “Anti-Religious and Ethnic Stereotyping Act” seek to protect the rights of Filipinos against discrimination arising from race, religion and ethnicity.

“Under the bill, there should be no discriminatory treatment on the basis of one’s religion or ethnicity, and there should not be any stereotyping or profiling of any person especially when they apply for work. The penalties should not be lower than P30,000 for the first offense, not lower than P200,000 for the next offense, and not lower than P500,000 for the

third offense,” said Escudero.

In the explanatory note of her bill, Escudero said individuals who belong to the stereotyped communities feel a diminished sense of citizenship and a feeling of being an unequal member of society although Filipinos purport to live under one flag and one country.

“This bill does not purport to be a panacea to cure these ageold ills. It is, however, believed that a greater knowledge and consciousness about the dangers of stereotyping and racialcultural profiling will go a long way in mending and improving relations among the diverse members of our community and our country,” said Escudero, chairperson of the committee on basic education and culture.

The Commission on Human Rights, through lawyer Eunice Sta. Maria of the CHR Legal, Legislative and Linkages, relayed the CHR’s full support for the bills, saying it is “high time that a legislative measure is put in place” since basic human rights are not only enshrined in the Constitution, but also embodied in several treaties and conventions which the country is a signatory to.

Police Chief Supt. Ericson Velasquez, deputy director of the Philippine National Police Directorate for Community Relations, concurred with the CHR’s position and commended the intention of the bills.

But he proposed amendments to certain provisions of the bills to ensure these will not be in conflict with existing laws.

Maguindanao Sultanate back fight vs terrorists DAVAO CITY—Descendants of the Sultanate of Maguindanao assembled here in a three-day summit that started Thursday to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign to combat extremism.

This, after Duterte called on Muslim leaders to go against extremism as the Islamic State was trying to gather connections in the Muslim sectors here in Mindanao.

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza were expected to make a dialogue with the descendants of the Sultanate of Maguindanao, official sources said.

The group is led by Sultan Abdulaziz Salem Mastura Kudarat V, the 25th Sultan of Maguindanao.

Lawyer Suharto Ambolodto, a descendant of the Sultanate, said the event was expected to gather the Masturas clan Maguindanao.

According to the invitation, the government is gathering support from the traditional local leaders to go away from the calls of the extremist group.

Videos of the Islamic Group calling for support of Islam in Mindanao have been circulating online that pushed Duterte to call on the Islamic community to never intertwine the thought of entering the terrorist group.

The authorities have identified several terrorist groups in Mindanao such as the Jemaah Islamiyah, Maute, Abu Sayyaf and Ansar Al-Khilafah among others. Pearl A. Gajunera

UNDER ARREST. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Quezon City Police District personnel conduct a blitz Friday at the St. Martin de Porres in Cubao, Quezon City which resulted in the arrest of main target Jazmine Sandico, along with cohorts, and the recovery of several grams of shabu. Manny Palmero

Ousted Manalo: I won’t leave compound OFWs must

By Rio Araja EXPELLED Iglesia ni Cristo member Felix Nathaniel “Ka Angel” Manalo maintained on Friday he would not leave the church compound.

“Aside from the absence of an ejection case against my house [sic], there is no other case and no court order for what they have done,” he said in a statement sent to the media.

He expressed his disappointment over the inaction of the Commission on Human Rights, Philippine Red Cross and Department of Social Welfare and Development to look into what he called their sorry state.

He said visitors were not allowed to see them and bring food for six days before his arrest on Wednesday.

On Feb. 27, men employed by the INC, along with barangay officials and the Quezon City Police District members, “invaded the

compound where we reside,” he said.

He said he heard Barangay New Era chairman Reynaldo Ebron, an INC member, speak on the mega phone, saying “do not interfere with our project.”

“We wondered what project of theirs we were not supposed to interfere with. A few moments later, a big backhoe entered and started demolishing one part of our house,” he said.

“You may see this on a live video footage we took which aired on Facebook.”

Without a court order, the demolition team dismantled his house at 36 Tandang Sora Avenue as his wife and children, along with the other women-occupants, were sent into panic, he said.

Using a backhoe, the men continued with their “illegal demolition,” he added.

The police came and talked to them that there was a complaint against them, he said.

He complained their lawyers and other visitors were not allowed to enter the compound and see them, saying they were “like prisoners in our own home.”

They were surrounded by armed security personnel and closed-circuit television, he noted.

“For six days now, we have not received our ration of food and water. This is the repeated scenario since last year. We continue to experience harassment and threats. We still have no electricity and water,” he said.

“We pleaded to CHR, PRC and DSWD but our situation has not changed.”

Manalo said they were shocked to learn about the news that they were accused of firing shots and had hurt someone.

“Nothing like that happened. We are the victims in this incident. We are forced to evacuate from our own home through oppression, hardship and starvation,” he said.

Solon disgusted over prisoners’ treatment

By Maricel V. Cruz

BARKING OUT. The Makati City Pound Services, underlining Friday the city government’s campaign against the dangers of being bitten by rabid dogs, has picked up stray dogs for free anti-rabies vaccines prior to being returned to their respective owners. Diana Noche

A LAWMAKER and member of the House committee on human rigjts on Friday denounced what he viewed as inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners during a drug raid in the Cebu Provincial Jail.

Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio denounced the public display of hundreds of naked inmates— forced to strip naked and paraded before the cameras—which “is yet another blatant violation of human rights perpetrated by law enforcers in the course of the Duterte regime’s so-called war on drugs.”

“The raid could have been conducted and its objectives achieved without resorting to the public humiliation of the

prisoners,” Tinio said.

Tinio said the way the inmates were treated “can be considered as a form of cruel and degrading punishment, for which those responsible should be held accountable.”

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and provincial police realeased photos showing the detainees sitting naked and cross legged in neat rows on the concrete quadrangle.

They were illuminated by spotlights with armed police guarding them.

The PDEA claimed that during the raid, drug enforcement agency officials obtainedeveral packets of methamphetamines and marijuana leaves, even knives and mobile phones.

not pay travel tax

By Vito Barcelo

LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered airline companies to stop from incorporating the cost of travel tax and terminal fees in tickets issued to overseas Filipino workers.

Under Presidential Decree 1183 and R.A. 8042, OFWs are exempted from paying travel tax and terminal fees but airline companies continue to include these additional costs to the detriment of millions of OFWs. Bello said in his letter to Director General Jim Sydiongco of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines: “It has come to my attention that the travel tax and terminal fees are being included in the cost of the airline tickets issued to our OFWs. “While some OFWs were refunded of these fees at the airport prior to their departure, most of them, however, were not refunded because of lack of awareness about this privilege or lack of time to process their claim for refund.”

Bello also requested the CAAP to remit the travel tax and terminal fees which were not refunded to the OFWs to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment.

“Considering that the inclusion of these travel tax and terminal fees in the cost of tickets has been a practice of airline companies for several years, we request that the travel tax and fees collected from our OFWs which were not refunded to them be remitted to the OWWA,” said Bello.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Harbingers of death

T

HE House of Representatives on Wednesday passed House Bill 4727 that seeks to reimpose the death penalty on second reading. There was no actual counting of votes; the “ayes” were simply uttered much more loudly than the “nays.”

Capital punishment was abolished during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Now, no less than President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing for it anew so that he could use it to run his campaign against illegal drugs.

This time around, only drug-related offenses are included and convicts would put to death by firing squad, hanging or lethal injection.

Numerous arguments have

been put forth for and against the death penalty. Those in favor of it say it is an effective deterrent of crime. It’s a decisive measure that sends a clear and unequivocal message: Crime does not pay.

Those against it, on the other hand, argue from legal, moral, religious and practical grounds.

There is International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Philippines is a party.

It calls on states to respect and

observe fundamental freedoms —of expression, of religion, and from cruel, inhumane or degrading punishment.

Church groups are also vociferous in opposing the bill because teachings say, plainly and clearly, than one must not kill.

Only backward states continue to have the death penalty, which runs counter to the principle of restorative justice and the notion that anybody, so long as he or she is still alive, can change for the better.

Finally many groups argue that there is no empirical evidence that supports the claim that death penalty does in fact deter crime.

This version of the capital punishment as pursued by the

Duterte administration allows us to add one more to the arguments against it: The death penalty should not be an option in a state where law enforcers trifle with basic rights and mocks due process. It would be a free pass to indulge in their brand of justice that has been in effect since the middle of last year and that has been responsible for the deaths of more than 7,000 suspected drug users and pushers who supposedly showed “resistance.” Note that these punishments were given without the benefit of investigation and trial.

The only thing worse than state-sponsored killings is statesponsored killings with basis in law.

Majority leader Rodolfo Farinas has some gall saying he and his allies just articulated the wishes of their constituents and that they were bullied by the minority. First, there is no accurate way to tell whether or not their people support or reject the measure. And, last we looked, to bully is to ensure you got your way no matter what. But who seem to be getting their way?

This is a solution that stands to beget an evil that is greater than the problem. That there will be actual voting during third reading at the House, and that the Senate does not appear as subservient to the Palace in this issue, give us some measure of relief.

We hope that relief would last.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

The BGC bridge project and the Sheridan street option

Lagman’s

THE traffic problem plaguing Metropolitan Manila has reached immense proportions to the effect that along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue alone, there seems to be no such thing as a “rush hour,” it appearing from the volume of vehicles that every hour is a “rush hour.” Good grief!

Compounding the traffic problem is the ineptitude of Tim Orbos, the head of the Metro Manila Development Authority. His agency has exempted motorcycles from the number-coding ban imposed on all vehicles. That improvident decision has allowed many reckless motorcycle drivers to lord it over the roads of the national capital region.

These motorcycle drivers disregard traffic rules with impunity, and are very inconsiderate and discourteous towards other motorists. They weave through traffic as they please, use any lane they want to, create their own counterflow, and they rush to the start of any motor vehicle queue at most intersections, where they end up occupying the pedestrian lane without any regard for pedestrians.

Moreover, the exemption Orbos gave to motorcycles has made it easier for “riding in tandem” urban assassins to ply their trade in the metropolis.

Good heavens!

The Pasig River has also been the focus of proposals for mitigating the traffic nightmare in Metropolitan Manila.

One proposal is to create a regular ferry service from Pasig in the east up to Manila Bay in the west. The stench of the river, however, makes this proposal unpopular.

Another proposal is to construct more bridges across the Pasig River to connect the north and south segments of the metropolis at more points.

This particular proposal is based on the assumption that if more bridges are constructed across the river, traffic congestion in the metropolis as a whole will ease up a bit.

So far, there are only about 14 bridges across the Pasig, and from all indications, they are not enough to meet the current roaduse demand.

It was learned that the Department of Public Works

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Edcel Lagman: Human rights champion POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO THESE days, it is easy to get politically disillusioned as it is easy to distrust politicians. The people are bombarded with too many important issues that need addressing. Sometimes, in frustration, one feels it is easier to just become apolitical and simply busy ourselves with personal concerns.

I have heard people say that our situation is hopeless.

We expect our politicians to be our champions. We give them our trust to represent our interests. We vote for them hoping that first and foremost, they will work for the people’s welfare and protect our rights. We bestow them the power to make decisions on condition that they are accountable to us.

We pay politicians’ salaries, including some perks from our hard-earned money. In fact, the Filipino people are these politi-

cians’ bosses.

Yet, we see many politicians subvert our interests. We watch as they “work” for political survival at the expense of what is good for Filipinos. We see the likes of Manny Pacquiao in the senate championing religion instead of people’s rights. We witness politicians make fun of, degrade, and verbally abuse Filipino women. We know of corrupt law enforcers who are first to break laws and commit heinous crimes. Worst, we experience fear for our, and our loved ones’ lives because of all the killings we see daily sanctioned by the president under the guise of “war on drugs.”

While feeling frustrated and hopeless are understandable, I refuse to give in to these feelings. Indeed, things are politically difficult and complicated but there are good politicians out there. There are public servants who deserve the title, and can give us some hope and inspiration to go on in the struggle for principles we believe to be right.

It is in this light that I decided

to write about these politicians.

While I am sure that there are many others, I will limit myself to those I personally know and worked with. I begin with Albay Representative Edcel Lagman.

There are good politicians in our midst. The Filipino people have allies in government regardless of party affiliation.

Before anyone accuses me of being a paid propagandist, let me categorically state that I am not, and have never been under the employ of Edcel, or any of the politicians that I will write about. My intent is to show peo-

ple that we can still hope and that there are politicians who remain on the side of the people.

One difficult issue we now face is the impending Congressional approval of the death penalty bill. This is being pushed by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte as clearly articulated during his first State of the Nation Address, and various succeeding statements. The House of Representatives has recently approved the bill on Second Reading through “viva voce” or “palakasan ng sigaw.”

Reading through media reports on this issue, the name Edcel Lagman stands out among those who oppose the bill. Those who know him, myself included, expected this. After all, Representative Lagman is a human rights defender. Opposing the reimposition of the death penalty is a human rights-based position.

Edcel Lagman is a rock star among human rights advocates.

He is one of those I know who are truly pro-poor and pro-people.

Lagman’s track record as a lawyer and legislator proves this. Rep.

Edcel was first known as a human rights lawyer who assisted poor workers. He still maintains his law firm that lawyers for workers and others in the margins who, otherwise will not be able to afford adequate legal representation.

When he became a legislator, Edcel focused (and still does) on crafting laws that truly benefit the marginalized sectors.

Among the laws he authored are: the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program which was also very difficult because it was considered radical at that time; the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act in 2006; the law increasing the Internal Revenue Allotment of local government units; the free secondary education law; the anti-torture and enforced disappearance Act; the compensation for Martial Law victims law; and, the Centenarian Act which provides for a P100,000.00 cash gift for each centenarian from the national government, and which, can be supplemented by LGUs. Few

can

match

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Opinion

THE aftermath of the whimsical and arbitrary decision by Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina “Gina” Lopez to close down 75 mining firms and to suspend 28 others for encroaching on the country’s watershed compelled this column to say she is standing on hollow ground. Accordingly, the encroachment threatens to pollute our primary source of potable water and render inoperable our hydroelectric power due to erosion, siltation and depletion of the water reserve in our dams.

In that instance, Secretary Lopez effectively rendered thousands of workers directly connected to the mining industry jobless. According to Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, this act would affect 1.2 million Filipinos and put in limbo P22 billion worth of investments.

Yes, there has to be a balance between protecting the environment, particularly our watershed, which is considered our ultimate lifeline to survival, and solving unemployment.

Maybe we can afford to set aside the highfalutin quest to attain full economic development or throw away those precious investments we worked hard to get and the revenues, all for the desire of one zealot to stop the degradation of our environment.

Whether she is the secretary of the DENR or not, the enforcement of the laws must not be arbitrary, whimsical and illegal. Rather, Secretary Lopez is relying on the proposition that mining within the watershed zone is illegal and prohibited. While that premise is a valid concern, she cannot deny there are laws regulating the mining, quarrying or carrying out of any commercial activity in and outside of the watershed areas. If they threaten to destroy the ecological balance, still, that belongs to the jurisdiction of another department. Neither can we proceed to uplift this country from poverty without developing, harnessing and exploiting our mineral resources which are essential to keep our industries moving, and allow us to enjoy the comforts of modernization of which a great portion originate from the mineral ores we extract.

I am saying this because it seems Secretary Lopez is relying solely on instinct on what she believes is right. Her concern is to protect our watershed, and her order is based on the fact that she stands as the secretary of the DENR. But for all her delirious crusade, it seems nobody has informed her that the agency empowered to protect our various watersheds is the Department of Energy. The mother law vesting the authority to the DoE is P.D. No. 1515 issued on June 11, 1978.

Specifically, the mandate given to the DoE provides that: Section 1. “... the Ministry of Energy shall have jurisdiction, control and regulation over all watershed areas and reservations ... proclaimed as such by the President....” Sec. 2. “The Ministry of Energy may exercise its powers, functions, and responsibilities over watershed areas and reservations through the National Power Corporation (NPC) or such other government agencies or instrumentalities as are attached to or otherwise placed under the Ministry of Energy. The NPC or any other such designated government agency shall be responsible for the management, protection, development and rehabilitation of watershed areas, including but not limited to the following: 1.

Identification of watershed areas which require immediate rehabilitation and development; 2. Prep-

aration of plans and programs for the maximum utilization of watershed resources; 3. Formulation and/or implementation of measures to prevent denudation of watershed cover; 4. Undertake public education and information drive to create awareness among the populace of the importance of forests and uses of watershed areas; 5. Promotion of the development and conservation of existing vegetative cover; 6. Formulation of plans and development programs for resettlement and relocation; 7. Coordination with other government agencies/instrumentalities, religious and civic groups in undertaking forest conservation measures in watershed areas; 8. Undertake afforestation, reforestation and physical rehabilitation measures in critically denuded watershed areas; and 9.

Development, maintenance and management of tree farms within adequately vegetated watersheds for the production of transmission line poles.” Finally, Section 3 provides that The Ministry of Energy is hereby empowered to call upon and enlist the assistance of any or all government agencies in the exercise of its powers herein.

Although P.D. No. 1515 has been amended by P.D. Nos. 1749 and 1839, the responsibility of protecting, developing, managing and rehabilitating the country’s watershed areas remain with the DoE. Maybe it is difficult to comprehend why President Marcos entrusted that to the DoE, but there is wisdom in his decision, which is to protect our water resources all emanating from our watershed. The Bureau of Mines may grant mining permit to applicants provided they comply with the rules and regulations regarding the disposition of toxic waste, safety of the miners and volume and specific minerals to be extracted. Once complied with, Bureau, which is under the DENR, cannot object. In the case of the DoE, its primary concern is to disallow the encroachment or carrying out of any activity that would destroy the ecological balance in the watershed areas.

Even the woefully mediocre administration of Noynoy Aquino was forced to repeal his silly Executive Order No. 186, (s.

2015), E.O. No. 223 (s. 1987), and EO. No. 853 (s. 1992) by issuing Executive Order No. 206 on May 20, 2016 reiterating the control and jurisdiction of the country’s watershed by the DoE. This now clarifies the illegal usurpation of power by Secretary Lopez, and her adamant position is making her appear silly. Worse, with her order to arbitrarily close the various mines which have valid and legitimate permit to operate, she committed a violation by enforcing a law not within her jurisdiction even if they specifically pertain to violating the environment.

She has crossed the threshold by doing irreparable damage to the economy and putting on the edge the employment of thousands dependent on the mining industry.

She has made President Duterte the laughingstock of the world.

Even those countries that spearhead the campaign to prevent climate change or the “melting of the earth” have not recklessly closed down their own mining firms just to comply with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, unless of course Secretary Gina Lopez is eyeing to be its chairman as shown by her acrobatic political stunt. Already, the shameless non-tax-paying clerics have been seen trotting around to support the granddaughter of their foremost financial “padron.”

There has to be balance between protecting the environment and solving unemployment.

Edcel...

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legislative track record. I am grateful to have the opportunity to know him and experience first hand how he puts his principles into action.

I do not remember the first time I met Rep. Lagman but it was during the early days of the advocacy for the passage of the reproductive

(rpkapunan@gmail.com) health bill, now RH law. It was also Lagman who spearheaded the long and tumultuous struggle for the bill’s passage in the HoR. At first Lagman struck me as “scary.” He has that serious countenance and you just know that he is a no-nonsense man. He strikes people as stern. One friend said, “Si Edcel, mukhang hindi pwedeng biruin.” But, when this man breaks into a smile, his face immediately and completely softens

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The greatest temptation

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Encroaching on DoE’s jurisdiction

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

LENT is a time to come to mind the paschal mystery; the passion, death and resurrection of Our Savior Jesus Christ. It is the time for atonement, doing penance, alms giving, and self-denial and to take stock of ourselves. Last Wednesday, Christian communities observed Ash Wednesday which ushers in the beginning of the approximately six weeks of Lent culminating in the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

The Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent begins by telling us about the three temptations of Jesus. The scripture goes that after 40 days of fasting and prayer in the desert in preparation for his coming ministry, Jesus was led by the spirit to be tempted. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed

him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ “Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the tempter tries to distract Christ from the task assigned to Him by the Father by distorting the task that claim to be its true fulfillment. The first is to turn stones into bread (4:3); the second to jump off the Temple pinnacle (4:6); and third, to worship Satan (4:9). These illustrate three kinds of control: material, spiritual and civil. They are based on the depraved and distorted notion that material goods will bring satisfaction and contentment; that spiritual powers derived from the devil will effect salvation; and finally that great political power will bring glory and honor.

At the heart of all three temptations is the idea that God is inconsequential and unnecessary because all these three resources are far more urgent matters that fill our lives, thus making God superfluous.

These temptations are treated as archetypes of the temptations we experience daily: the temptation to amass through our own efforts material possessions, spiritual power and political power and social influence for their own sake, without the beneficence of God from whom everything and everyone emanates.

The first temptation is about material goods. Much of what ails our present day is the singleminded focus on acquiring mate-

rial wealth and carnal pleasures.

Because of the over emphasis on materialism respect for oneself and others, compassion, honesty, dignity and honor give way to greed, dishonesty, conceit and pride, self-centeredness and indifference toward the suffering of others. Much of human misery and failings such as corruption, divorce and abortion can ultimately be traced to man’s inordinate and excessive love for material wealth and physical gratification.

In the second temptation, the tempter, as he told Jesus, tempts us into believing that we can test and challenge God into yielding to our own will, threatening him that we will resort to our own flawed devices should he fail us. Oftentimes, we seek solutions elsewhere rather that trusting in God’s providence.

Every one of us is tempted to seek sinful pleasures, easy wealth and a position of authority, power and glory, and are often ready and willing to succumb to these desires even through sinful ways. But Jesus teaches us how to conquer these temptations by strengthening himself through prayer, penance and utter dependence on the will of God the Father.

The third temptation, the greatest of the three, is the arrogance of power. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely, as the adage goes. We know how people react to power and authority.

A powerful individual, devoid of moral compass, will most certainly abuse his authority. Power is a corrosive potion to those who are not guided by the spirit of benevolence, humility and the sincere desire to serve.

Today, yielding to this great-

est temptation is illustrated by the manner the war against illegal drugs is being conducted including the attempt to reimpose the death penalty. Because there is little faith in God’s brand of justice, our leaders, with the approval many, mislead to believe that the only recourse is to seek retribution by exterminating the criminals and drug addicts. Retribution, violence, and vengeance have taken precedence over rehabilitation, mercy, compassion and non-violence.

EJKs and the death penalty are based on the mistaken belief that they solve the problem of drug addiction and criminality. Yet, time and again, it has been proven that this is not the way to go. Violence only breeds violence, thus compounding human misery. If we were to reinstate the death penalty and aggravate the current state of murderous violence, man is to arrogate unto himself the power to determine who is to live or to die. Thus, this deprives God, the Lord of Justice, the authority to take the life of his own creature.

With death as the main solution, there is no forgiveness; there is no rehabilitation; there is no second chance; what remains is the permanent ending of life.

Like many others, I, Tony La Viña—teacher and lawyer, Mindanawon—declare that I will oppose the reimposition of the death penalty by our Philippine Congress and that I will continue to fight extrajudicial killings of any kind and violations of human rights in any form, and that I offer these works for justice as my main act of charity, as my alay kapwa (offering to neighbor), this Lent and beyond.

The evolution of moral sense used descriptively) is frequent, but as frequently also discerned and dealt with. There is very good reason to say that we are getting “better”—by which I mean that our moral sense has moved in the direction of kindness, compassion, justice and fairness. Now, of course, the problem with that assertion is that it is fraught with ambiguity because what compassion and justice are can be the subject of spirited, even heated, exchanges. But the cruelty with which conquerors dealt with the vanquished as reports and narratives of earlier epochs recount is no longer the rule. In those days hostes impetum fecerunt did not mean the clinical strikes of drones or missile launches. It meant swords cutting into flesh, and all the blood and gore that came with cracked skulls and disemboweled victims. We shake these images off in revulsion—our moral sense has evolved, even if we are still prepared for war continually. And despite the fact that we never let our guard down, we are rightly indignant at the barbarity of ISIS and appalled by the remorselessness with which the ASG behead their hostages! Slavery was once the rule, and lot of slaves was far from kind. Then America found itself locked in a civil war over the issue, although earlier even the great Thomas Aquinas thought

that some people were so lacking in talent as to be fit only for the service of slaves. But the world has since outlawed slavery—and that is why there is a determined uniting of effort against modernday slavery, in all its forms, including the reprehensible conditions in which many overseas Filipino workers find themselves.

So, too, executing society’s more troublesome members was once part of social life. It even provided some respite from the boredom of day-to-day living. But we have since arrived at the conviction that murder is unworthy of us, an act that dehumanizes both its victim and its perpetrator, and that this is true even if the State murders in the name of the law.

And so it is that in international law, the bias against the death penalty is undeniable. The ad hoc international criminal tribunals— those for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, to take the best examples—do not include the death penalty in their charters, although the crimes they punish—genocide, crimes against humanity and egregious violations of the laws and customs of war—are without doubt more heinous than those we think are heinous enough to warrant execution, in the Philippines—such as drug peddling. That is also why the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Politi-

cal Rights, of which we are State parties, has no “opt-out” clause— and it obligates us to desist from imposing the sentence of death.

So I am worried about what the Lower House has just done. If anything at all, institutions, like legislatures, are agents and sites of society’s reflexivity. It is such institutions that by procedure and mandate consciously appropriate the progress of human consciousness to bring about more human “social coherence.” Of course, if “human” has meanwhile lost all its significance, then there is nothing really to rue. But if “human” refers to the strides we have taken—humanizing even the conduct of war by humanitarian law, insisting on gender equality going so far as being quite willing to rework our vocabulary, dismantling the barriers that kept minorities at the margins—then it is regrettable that the Lower House has taken a deviant step in the direction of that on which we are supposed to have turned our backs.

And this is certainly not an argument against justice, for it seems to be one of the grandest strides of human evolution that we can conceive of justice that is not some subterfuge for vengeance!

to construct a bridge connecting the Bonifacio Global City to Barangay Kapitolyo in Pasig City.

More specifically, the bridge will start from Lawton Street in what was once the sprawling Fort Bonifacio military reservation and end up at Santa Monica Street in the southeast segment of Barangay Kapitolyo.

Residents of Barangay Kapitolyo are protesting this proposed bridge because it will add to the existing traffic congestion along Capitol Drive. The anticipated traffic mess, air pollution, and vehicle noise already trigger anxiety among the residents in the affected areas. They all ask—why use Santa Monica Street to connect BGC with the north segment of Metropolitan Manila, when there are other less unsettling and less disturbing alternatives?

Indeed, why use Santa Monica and Capitol Drive when the di-

verted vehicles using that proposed bridge will only end up at Shaw Boulevard which is, as it is, extremely congested at almost all hours of the day?

An observer invites attention to Sheridan Street which is located close to the border between Mandaluyong City and Pasig City.

Sheridan Street begins at the intersection of Shaw Boulevard and San Miguel Avenue near Saint Francis Church in Mandaluyong, and traverses United Street and Reliance Street to the south, until it reaches Pioneer Street beside the RFM corporate head office.

Back in the 1990s, Sheridan Street did not end at Pioneer Street, but crossed it, and continued downhill well into the end of Brixton Street, and on to Capitol Drive in Barangay Kapitolyo.

That particular stretch of Sheridan Street hosted and continues to host factories and warehouses, not residences.

In the 1990s, motorists coming from Capitol Drive can go directly to Pioneer Street through this segment of Sheridan Street. RFM

operated an outlet at that segment.

That outlet sold eggs and dressed chicken at wholesale prices. It could be reached directly from Capitol Drive, and customers parked their vehicles on the road.

Sometime in the late 1990s, however, motorists coming from Capitol Drive were no longer allowed to use that segment of Sheridan Street as an access road to Pioneer Street. They were instead diverted to Brixton Street, then to Reliance Street, and on to Pioneer Street. Eventually, that segment of Sheridan Street was blocked off for the exclusive use of RFM vehicles. How RFM got exclusive rights over that segment of Sheridan Street is not clear.

So far, the intersection of Pioneer Street and that segment of Sheridan Street is marked by a commercial arcade, a pizza outlet, a fuel station patronized by taxicabs, and a fastfood outlet.

A close look at that segment of Sheridan Street will readily reveal its strategic importance to solving the traffic mess in the area.

An observer suggests that the

solution is to build the BGC-Santa Monica bridge as planned, but instead of connecting the Pasig end of the bridge to Capitol Drive and on to Shaw Boulevard, the Pasig end should be connected instead to that segment of Sheridan Street near the RFM area. Motorists can then travel from BGC and then on to Santa Monica Street, further to that segment of Sheridan Street near the RFM area. Upon reaching Pioneer Street, motorists can continue straight to the main stretch Sheridan Street up to Shaw Boulevard and San Miguel Avenue. They can also turn left on one of the side roads along the main stretch of Sheridan Street and proceed to the Edsa Boni Avenue tunnel, or to the northbound lane of Edsa.

If the DPWH insists on its plan to connect the bridge to Shaw Boulevard, and the project turns out to cost more than the Sheridan Street alternative, DPWH officials may be inviting a court suit for injunction, and even graft raps before the Office of the Ombudsman.

and you just want to hug him. The transformation is such that one forgets that he is “scary.”

I have learned much from Rep. Edcel through the many years of our advocacy for the RH law. To say that he is brilliant is an understatement. Once, while Edcel was defending the RH Bill on the floor against fellow Rep. Raul Daza, I overheard other legislators saying that it was rare to have two highly competent legislators debate

against each other and that they missed the days when the House was full of statesmen and women.

Edcel is idealistic but pragmatic at the same time. I remember when we were at a meeting discussing our bottomlines on the bill, he knew that we were against the “giving away” some provisions. He told us, “We cannot have a perfect law. There is no perfect law because lawmaking is a matter of negotiations.” It was diffi-

cult to accept but we knew he was right. He has the wisdom brought about by long years of experience.

Edcel is progressive. Just go by the kind of laws he has worked on.

Few can be as progressive as he is.

When I told him that we want to work on the passage of a divorce law, he said, “I will file the bill” without batting an eyelash. And file the bill he did.

There are good politicians in our midst. The Filipino people

have allies in government regardless of party affiliation. We can still hope that somehow, some good things can still happen. Let us not despair. Rather, let us work with politicians who are true to their mandate of public service.

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO CONSCIOUSNESS evolves, and with it, moral sense by which I mean our sense of what is right and wrong. The process is rational, but not completely deliberate. The evolution of species is not teleological, as far as science can tell, and neither is the evolution of human consciousness directed towards some predetermined end. In fact, it cannot be so, for were there a fixed goal, then it could have only been the fruit of the consciousness of an earlier stage—from which evolution is supposed to have moved. It does involve reflexivity, though, in the sense that Giddens talks about reflexivity: the conscious monitoring of what happens and the appropriation of events in the planning and deliberation about what must be done. Like many things human, it is the interplay of what we are aware and what lies beneath levels of awareness.

The development in our thinking (and feeling) about what is right and wrong does not run in crazy circles. Neither is the trajectory always straight and unbending. And deviation (here,

The BGC...

From A4

and Highways is pursuing a plan

rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

News

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SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

RU eyes skilled Pinoy workers A

DAY after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he would visit Russia on May 25, Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev said the visit will signal the start of “a new bilateral partnership between Philippines and Russia based on equality and mutual respect.”

“Our aim is to build a new bilateral partnership between Philippines and Russia based on equality and mutual respect,” he said, stressing Moscow’s seriousness in comprehensive cooperation with the Philippines.

“We will create necessary favorable conditions for a substantial enhancement of our bilateral relations on different areas including political dialogue, trade and investment, security and defense, education, culture, science and technology.

Everything,” the envoy said at a forum in Makati City.

Already, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry earlier met with a delegation from Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Transport and Russian companies expressed interest in investing in the transportation and energy sectors.

“We are also interested to hire highly qualified people from your country,” Khovaev said. “Highlyskilled workers, engineers and business managers as well because as far as I know the Philippines is able to export not only housemaids or nurses but also highly qualified specialists.”

“We need to sign a number of bilateral agreements to adequately protect the legitimate right of workers and of employees and employers,” he said.

The envoy also called on Philippine businessmen to discover the possibilities in Russia. “I’m calling on all Filipino business people, please be more active, aggressive in exploring business possibilities in Russia.”

“It’s time for Filipinos to disManila

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cover Russia and it’s time for Russians to discover Philippines.

Please consider Russia as a neighbor. We’re not really far from each other,” he added.

Last month, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev visited the Philippines and met with Duterte in Davao City to discuss defense and security cooperation agreements that may be forged during the President’s visit to Moscow.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the discussions between Duterte and Patrushev included “future government-to-government cooperation” in the areas of security and intelligence, defense and military, law enforcement, the fight against drugs, transnational crime, and terrorism.

“Memorandum of Understanding on these fields are being finalized by concerned agencies and are expected to be signed during the planned President’s visit to Moscow,” Esperon said.

Meanwhile, the Philippines and Russia are set to hold the first session of the Philippines Russia Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation which was created to improve bilateral relations.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo met with Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexander Tsybulskiy last month to discuss various areas of cooperation that will be discussed in the first session.

“The inaugural session is scheduled to convene in the first half of 2017 in Manila in preparation for the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Russia,” the DTI said in a statement.

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All unredeemed pledges during the month of OCTOBER 2016 will be sold to public auction on MARCH 7, 2017 at the ff. branches: HERRAN 8:00 AM at # 1101 P. Gil St., Paco, Manila STA. ANA – 10:00 AM # 390 AP Reyes Cor. JP Rizal St., Makati City at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

All unredeemed pledges during the month of OCTOBER 2016 will be sold to public auction on MARCH 7, 2017 at the ff. branches: PRITIL - 8:00 AM at 1833 N. Zamora St., Pritil, Tondo, Manila BLUMENTRITT – 10:30 AM #1687 M. Hizon St., Blumentritt, Manila VARONA – 8:30 AM 1872 F. VARONA ST., BRGY 95, ZONE 8, TONDO, MANILA MARCH 24, 2017 ALTURA – 9:00 AM # 418 Altura St. Sta. Mesa, Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

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All unredeemed pledges during the month of OCTOBER 2016 will be sold to public auction on MARCH 5, 2017 at RITZ - 12:00 PM at Stall # New Muntinlupa Public Market, Alabang Muntinlupa City JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

All unredeemed pledges during the month of OCTOBER 2016 will be sold to public auction on MARCH 06, 2017 at the ff. branches: COUNTRYSIDE - 12:30 PM at 49 Countryside Ave., Sta. Lucia, Pasig City JUNCTION – 2:30 PM # Star Valley Plaza Mall, Junction at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

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Filipinos to join Bonn resilience meet DELEGATES from Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo will join more than 300 leaders and experts from around the globe to participate in the eighth Global Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation on May 4-7 in Bonn, Germany.

Organized by ICLEI, the forum will focus on urban resilience and adaptation to climate change challenges through sessions on localizing global frameworks, disaster risk reduction planning and policy, financing resilience, risk transfer and insurance, and mechanisms for measuring, reporting and accelerating action for resilience building, among others.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick

Mabilog and Mary Ann Gumban, dean of the College of Management of the University of the Philippines Visayas, will represent Iloilo City, while Eileen San Juan, Local Economic and Investments Promotion Officer of the Cagayan de Oro City Government, and lawyer Dionel Albina, director of Innovation and Technology Solutions of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, will represent Cagayan de Oro City. The delegates were able to avail of fully-funded scholarships for the trip.

The forum is part of the Resilient Cities congress series. It was first launched in 2010 in Bonn

with the goal of forging partner- by matching city needs with uniships between local government versity capacity—overcoming leaders and climate change adap- the gap between knowledge and tation experts to pursue solutions practice—to come up with innofor adaptation challenges in urban vative solutions to local quality of environments. life issues.

The Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo The city-university delegates delegates will also join a pre-con- are expected to replicate the ference training on the Educa- EPIC model in their cities with tional Partnerships for Innovation the urban development learning in Communities framework in centers that will be set by USconjunction with the Resilient Cit- AID through its Strengthening ies 2017 on May 3, 2017 in Bonn. Urban Resilience for Growth MAGENTA YELLOW BLACKProject.

The EPIC framework,CYAN previously with Equity (SURGE) known as the “Oregon Model,” The knowledge hubs are enviwas pioneered by the University sioned to foster urban developof Oregon in the United States in ment, climate-resilient land use 2009. The framework is known and infrastructure planning, and for its scalability and replicabil- sustainable water and sanitation ity across cities and universities, services.

Prepare for return, OFWs told

By Macon Ramos-Araneta OVERSEAS Filipino workers need to learn to properly manage their hard-earned money when they return to the country and decide to stay here for good, Senator Cynthia A. Villar said.

Villar, an advocate of OFW welfare and protection, emphasized overseas workers must be armed with the right know-how on how they can grow and use their savings to ensure the good future of their families.

“They worked hard and sacrificed their time with their families so they will have a bright tomorrow.

It will be disheartening, and more so frustrating, if they do not use their savings wisely,” Villar said.

“Our workers need all the help

and support when it comes to handling their savings. It is heartwarming to hear their success stories, and it is with pride that I align myself as among the many protectors and supporters of our OFWs,” she added.

To help OFWs manage their earnings, the Villar SIPAG Foundation organized on Tuesday a financial literacy seminar that sought to guide former workers from abroad on how to set up small businesses, teach them the advantages of investing their monies and detecting investment scams, among others.

Financial Education courses were facilitated by Ronnie Billones, Joy Sanchez and Nolan Ray Lazaro of The Global Filipino Investors (TGFI). They talked about Budgeting, Steps on Growing Your Money and Personal Finance Planning.

The seminar, entitled ‘Seminar on Socio-Economic Reintegration and Financial Education for OFWs’, also helped attendees understand how money works, how to manage it, and how to earn or make it.

It likewise taught OFWs available reintegration programs that are implemented by both GOs and NGOs and offer livelihood opportunities for self-employment and as a means of income generation for the family.

Ma. Theresa Capa, chief of the Programs Services Division, and Zandro Almendrala, head of the Reintegration Unit of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and division chief Elizabeth Zambrano of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs presented their programs and services.

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MAKATI LUXURY JEWELRY PAWNSHOP CO.,

All unredeemed pledges during the month of OCTOBER 2016 will be sold to public auction on MARCH 05, 2017 at the ff. branches: SUCAT - 9:00 AM at #3 Dr., A. Santos Ave., Sucat, Parañaque City MUNTI – 1:30 PM #659 National Road, Poblacion St., Muntinlupa City MARCH 06, 2017 SAN JOAQUIN – 1:30 PM # 9 M. Concepcion San Joaquin, Pasig City MARCH 10, 2017 10TH AVE. – 2:00 PM # 245B 10TH Ave., Brgy., 60 Zone 6, Caloocan City MARCH 10, 2017 MARILAO – 1 PM #5 NETWORK AVE., MERALCO VILL. LIAS MARILAO BULACAN MARCH 7, 2017 SAGRADA – 11:00AM #1978 ESTRADA ST., FORMER SAGRADA FAMILIA STA. ANA, MLA. MARCH 8, 2017 GAGALANGIN – 8:45 AM #2 JUAN LUNA ST., COR. GUIDO ST., TONDO MANILA MARCH 9, 2017 STO NIÑO – 9:30 AM #30 ST., THERESE COR, ST. PETER, P3 STO NIÑO MEYCAUAN BULACAN at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

All unredeemed pledges during the month of OCTOBER 2016 will be sold to public auction on MARCH 05, 2017 at BF Homes – 10:00 AM # 43 President’s Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque City SPL - 3:00 PM at Casa Hacienda San Pedro, Laguna on MARCH 07, 2017 at the ff. branches: ROMULO - 10:00 AM at 135 13TH Ave., Cor. P. Tuazon, Cubao, QC SANTOLAN – 4:00 PM 526 ADR Bldg., Dela Paz, Santolan, Pasig City on MARCH 7, 2017 JP RIZAL – 11:00 AM # 529 Olympia St., JP Rizal, Makati City ALPHALAND – 5:00 PM G11 South Gate Towers, P. Tamo Ext., Makati City MANUELA – 3:00 PM G/F Starmall, Wack2, Mandaluyong City MARCH 11, 2017 LALOMA – 11:30 AM # 67 Calavite St., Brgy., P. Bundok, QC RETIRO - 12:30 PM # 270 N.S. amoranto Street, Retiro QC. ROTONDA – 2:00 PM # 1 Sto. Tomas St., Rotonda QC at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

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the ‘Until We Heal’ pledge to demonstrate to global leaders the overwhelming support for access to safe surgery. Operation Smile Philippines is the first country to sign the pledge. PNA

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UNTIL WE HEAL. Operation Smile co-founder Dr. William ‘Bill’ Magee Jr. (right) said campaign will invite citizens around the world to sign

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EDSA EXHIBIT. Veteran photojournalist Sonny Camarillo, past president of The Camera Club of the Philippines and the Press Photographers of the Philippines, mounts his 25th exhibit commemorating the recent anniversary of the People Power Revolution. The exhibit was presented by the Ayala Land Inc., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Camerahaus and Pagcor at the UP Town Center in Diliman, Quezon City. Present during the opening ceremony were (from left) former Presidential Management Staff Secretary Benjamin de Leon, Pilar Cruz of PCSO, Camera Club of the Philippines president Marivic Silva, Benedict Ang of Ayala Malls Inc., Camarillo, Nadine Jacinto of DZRJ Radyo Bandido; keynote speaker, former President Fidel Ramos; Sonny Oliver Cortez; Erin Cortez of the Diliman Prep School Elementary Choir and former Naia assistant general manager and emcee TG Serrano of CCP.

2 more cops arrested

By Francisco Tuyay THE Counter-Intelligence Task Force of the Philippine National Police arrested two more policemen as part of their mission to weed out erring policemen from the organization.

CITF head Sr. Supt Chiquito Malayo said the two policemen were caught in an entrapment operation shortly after receiving a complaint from a motorist that he is being extorted by the lawmen in exchange for a traffic investigation report in Pasig City Thursday night.

Malayo identified the arrested enforcers as Senior Police Officer-1 Johan Vega and Police Officer-3 Higino Dancel, both assigned at the Traffic Division Unit of the Pasig City Police Station.

The arrest of the two Pasig City policemen came barely a month after the CITF launched its first mission in Metro Manila, striking at two crooked Manila lawmen for alleged extortion activities at the tourist district in Malate.

The two policemen were identified as Senior Police Officer 2 Rodito Maglayun and Police Officer 3 Rowel Candelario, both assigned at the Manila Police District.

So far, Malayo said a total of seven policemen—five for robberyextortion and two for unlawful arrest—were arrested by CITF operatives since last month.

Malayo said the operation against the two police suspects in Pasig came following an entrapment operation by the CITF at the Pasig City traffic headquarters which led to the arrest of Vega and Dancel.

“The entrapment operations was conducted after we received a complaint through our hotline number 0998-970-228,” Malayo said.

He said that the marked money was also recovered from the desks of the two suspects. The two suspects are now facing robbery extortion charges and were immediately brought to the CITF headquarters in Camp Crame prior to the filling of the case.

Sports Morales zeroes in on Ronda PH crown ILOILO CITY—Kinetix LabArmy’s Mark Julius Bordeos led five others in a frantic finish to top the penultimate Stage 13, even as Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance moved a stage away from officially wrapping up his second straight title in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 at the Iloilo Business Park here yesterday.

Bordeos, 21, out-sprinted Navy’s Ronald Lomotos, Kinetix Lab-Army’s Cris Joven, RC Cola-NCR’s Leonel Dimaano, Mindanao Sultan Kudarat’s Roel Quitoy and another Armyman Lord Anthony del Rosario to secure his very first lap victory in this annual race considered the biggest in the country today.

Lomotos finished second, while Joven was third.

Bordeos, Lomotos and Joven checked in with the same time as Dimaano, Quitoy and del Rosario in five hours, 19 minutes and one second in the 209-km lap that started and ended here, but passed Antique.

“Thankful and happy that I won the stage,” said Bordeos, a native of Laoac, Pangasinan, in Filipino.

The 31-year-old Morales checked in at eighth in the stage in 5:19:10 behind No. 7 Marvin Tapic of Kinetix Lab-Army, who clocked 5:19:03, to further solidify his grip on the solo lead in the overall individual race with an aggregate time of 43:50:45, or a whopping 13.09 minutes lead over teammate Rudy Roque, who has 44:03:54.

Today’s 14th and final stage—a 50-km criterium that will start and end at the Iloilo Business Park for the second straight day—will serve as a victory ride for the Calumpang, Marikina City rider.

After coming into the stage a little unsure, Morales flashed a smile knowing victory is at hand.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Philracom: Online cockfight betting not in our jurisdiction

I

T’S a case of barking up the wrong tree.

Reacting to a news report that it is being haled to court by a certain group to stop the operation of online cockfight betting in all off-track betting stations (OTB), the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) reminded the petitioners that it cannot “perform an act” that it has no jurisdiction of.

“To date, the Philracom has not received any order from the Supreme Court requiring it to comment on the alleged Petition for Mandamus filed by a certain Liga ng Eksplosibong Pagbabago

Inc. (LEPI) to compel Philracom to order OTBs to stop the betting on online sabong,” said the Philracom’s legal counsel Atty. Pilita Venturanza. “However, if such a case were really filed, it would be

a waste of precious time for both the Supreme Court and Philracom. In layman’s terms, mandamus is a legal remedy to compel a government agency to do some specific act which the said agency is obliged to do under the law.”

In the petition by the LEPI to the Supreme Court, it said that the Philracom as a regulatory body has “all the powers to stop online sabong in the OTBs.” The Philracom, however, is dumbfounded as it is being forced to perform a function it has no business of doing.

“PD 420 (as amended by PD 1095), the very law that created the

Philracom has expressly excluded from its jurisdiction functions that are related to the supervision and regulation of betting in horseracing and has conferred the same to the Games and Amusements Board,” Atty. Venturanza said.

“How can the court compel Philracom to perform an act that the law has expressly excluded from its functions and jurisdiction?” Atty. Venturaza asked.

The Philracom legal counsel added that jurisdiction is conferred by law.

“If the news report is true, it is bewildering that LEPI was able to submit a 19-page petition with

the Supreme Court overlooking that most basic and elementary requirement,” said Atty. Venturaza.

Philracom Executive Director Dr. Andrew M. Buencamino, concurred, adding that the LEPI should have done its due diligence first before hastily filing a halfbaked petition.

“If they just did their assignment, they will find out that online betting, especially that of cockfighting does not fall under the Philracom, but that of the Games and Amusements Board,” said Dr. Buencamino. “Either this, or they are doing this for some other reason we don’t know of.”

Run United Exceed set April 2 in Bonifacio Global City

ActiveHealth triathlon coach Dan Brown leads the run clinic to help participants finish the Run United race at 2.5 hours.

Responders, Kamao start duel for UNTV Cup title on Sunday AFTER six months of action-packed Sunday the team is working hard to further improve the various aspects of their game. games, the championship has arrived.

“We must focus on how to start the game. At The PNP Responders and the Malacañang the same time, defense. There are Kamao start their best-of-three many loopholes. Secondly, our showdown Sunday, 5 p.m. at the Games Sunday field goal percentage, we must still Pasig City Sports Center in the (Pasig City Sports Center) adjust in that department,” said UNTV Cup Season 5 Finals.

3 p.m. Judiciary Magis vs. PNP Responders Samson.

The Responders, who faced 5 p.m. BOC Transformers vs Over P8 million in cash prizes the Judiciary Magis in the season Malacañang Kamao await the league of public ser1 finals and the AFP Cavaliers in vants this season, all of which seasons 2 and 4, will attempt to will be donated to the chosen beneficiaries of clinch the title for the fourth time.

On the other hand, the Malacañang Kamao, each team.

In the battle for third place, two-time chamformerly Malacañang Patriots, who failed to beat the Judiciary Magis in the season 3 cham- pion Judiciary Magis and rookie team BOC Transformers clash at 3 p.m. pionship series, try to win it all on Sunday.

A P1-million cash prize awaits the winner in “We will show the value of a team that plays as one, with team work and with good relation- this match, while half a million pesos is in store PNP Responders’ Anton Tolentino looks for a perfect timing to shoot as two ship,” said Malacanang Kamao Head Coach for the losing team.

The matches will be aired live on UNTV, Malacanang Kamao players try to block his shot during their encounter earlier this Louie Gonzales. season. The two teams will have to face again in a best-of-3 championship series.

Coach Erick Samson of the Responders said with live streaming via untvweb.com.

ACTIVEHEALTH, together with premier race organizer RunRio Inc., is set to launch Run United Exceed, a 21km endurance race patterned after major world marathon races, co-presented by Tag Heuer.

The event will be held at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on April 2.

Run United Exceed is expected to set new records from the participants as the mechanics of the run introduces the category for the top 15 fastest negative split medal finishers—athletes who finished the second half of the race faster than the first half. Exclusive TAG Heuer Don’t Crack Under Pressure medal for 2.5 hours finishers and free Under Armour shoes are up for grabs for the top 15.

All participants are also entitled to discounted privileges from partner merchants and a Run United Exceed Kit inclusive of a technical race and event shirt, multi-purpose sling bag and more. Two participants get a chance to win guaranteed slots to Angkor Wat International Full Marathon or Angkor Wat International Half Marathon. Like any other world marathon major, Tag Heuer is the official timekeeper of Run United Exceed.

“The concept is to shatter one’s perception of time. We envision this race to give birth to the next generation of high-performing half-marathoners who are trained to be at par with those who are joining international races,” says Lester Castillo, Brand Manager of ActiveHealth.

Run United has established a strong foothold in the racing circuit when it was launched in March 2010, which drew thousands of families who ran together to live a healthy lifestyle.

Through the years, it grew a steady following from participants who have levelled up in terms of race categories.

Lewton sustains form, cards 1-under 71 for 2-shot lead

Englishman Steve Lewton fails to save a par from the bunker on the par-3 11th.

STA. ROSA, Laguna—Steve Lewton bucked the gale-force wind and The Country Club’s daunting length for the second straight day, carding a oneunder 71 and wresting a two-stroke lead over erstwhile leader John Catlin, Miguel Tabuena and two others halfway through the Solaire Philippine Open here yesterday.

Lewton, one of the six players who shot a 70 in the first round of the $400,000 event, checked an impending skid with a gutsy finish in the wind and through TCC’s feared closing holes, birdying the par-3 17th then parring the long, difficult 18th to save a 71.

With a three-under 141 aggregate, Lewton moved 36 holes away from

becoming the first Englishman to win Asia’s oldest National Open, sponsored by Solaire Resort and Casino, which has produced winners from the US, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Scotland in its 99 years of staging.

But the Open weekend is expected to be a survival of the fittest although Lewton’s two-shot lead could prove to be a big cushion with the wind tipped to blow harder and fiercer in the last two days at the 7735-yard Tom Weiskoph-designed layout.

“I played very steady. I had some silly mistakes but I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens,” said Lewton, who beat Tony Lascuña and Brazilian

Adilson Da Silva by two to capture the Asian Tour’s Taiwan Masters crown in 2014 for his biggest career win.

With all the changes the TCC had undergone to conform to world standard, it remained tough for anyone trying to win a crown.

“It’s really a good test. The course has changed but I still like it. The wind is strong but not ridiculous. But the past few weeks I’ve been practicing in strong winds,” said the 6-foot-3 leader.

The Englishman Tabuena barely survived another seveñre day, birdying the par-5 for the second straight time for a 73 that proved enough to put the young Filipino spearhead into a four-way for second at 143 with erstwhile leader John

Kasparov chess lines up back-to-back events in Alphaland KASPAROV Chess Foundation Asia-Pacific has lined up back-to-back events to boost the grassroots chess development in the country at the well-appointed Alphaland City Center in Makati on the last weekend of this month.

Young Talents Rapid Chess Championships for boys and girls Under 8 years old, U10, U12, U14 and U18 is set on

March 26 and Chess in Education Training for Teachers seminar follows the next day.

“We are glad to partner with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Department of Education and Alphaland Corporation in our initiatives highlighting the 15th anniversary celebration of Kasparov Chess Foundation,” KCFAP Director Ignatius Leong, erstwhile FIDE

secretary general, said.

“We are working out the visit in October of the great chess champion Garry Kasparov, acclaimed as one of the 100 modern day geniuses along with Bill Gates, to inspire kids to take up the sport of chess and if they are already into it to work hard to improve their craft,” he added.

For his part, NCFP president Butch Pichay said: “The staging of

the championships for young talents and the seminar for teachers and local instructors is KCF’s recognition that the Filipino has got what takes to be world beater. Just look at Wesley So, he’s now no. 2 in the world.”

KCF president Michael Khodarkovsky, a FIDE senior trainer, is the key speaker in the seminar, with Peter Long, KCFAP Projects Director, assisting him.

There will be $250, $150 and $100 in travel subsidies to the 2017 ASEAN Age-Group Championships in Malaysia, plus trophies await the podium finishers in each boys and girls age group. The 4th-10th placers also get trophies.

The participants in both events bring home a certificate bearing the signature of Kasparov.

Catlin of the US, Thai Rattanon Wannasrichan and long-hitting Johannes Veerman, also of the US. Catlin, who impressed the elite field with an opening 68, battled back from a five-over card in the first five holes with birdies on Nos. 8 and 13, finishing with a 75; while Wannasrichan also birdied No. 8 to stay in the mix with a 71.

While Lewton continued to master the TCC with superb shotmaking and iron play, Veerman flaunted his power game, netting him two eagles – Nos. 8 and 10 – to turn in the day’s best of three-under 69 after an opening 74 in the 72-hole championship held in cooperation with Meralco and PLDT.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

Sports

Ginebra brings back Brownlee

By Jeric Lopez

Nico Sevilla (left), who is seen here lining up for his birdie putt, will be part of the last five for Sherwood Hills’ finishing roster in today’s final round of the PAL Men’s Interclub the Aviator Division in Davao, where the Cavite-based squad is ahead after the third round. Sevilla scored 31 points in his initial day at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.

Right photo shows Manila Southwoods’ Liam Cully trying to figure out his approach going to hole no. 14. Lino Santos

Manila Southwoods’ youth brigade sets Interclub record D AVAO— Manila Southwoods put on a record-breaking performance in the 70th Philippine Airlines Interclub and all but completed the club’s first hat trick in the Men’s Championship division.

The Carmona-based squad’s youthful brigade practically turned the well-manicured Rancho Palos Verdes here into their playground, shooting the lights out with a mind-boggling 156 points to leave arch-rival and the rest of the field eating their dust.

Japanese teenager Yuto Katsuragawa fired a tournament-best six-under-par 66 worth 42 points,

Liam Cully and Carl Corpus assembled 38s and either of Aidric Chan and Jama Reyes’ 37s counted as Southwoods now has a 427 total, 38 points ahead of the Sugar Barons.

No team in memory has ever come up with all five players cracking par and a team throwing one such card away, and that has practically made today’s final

round the team’s victory march at Apo Golf with Canlubang needing nothing less than a miracle to pull this one out of the fire.

“There’s still one round left to be played, but now I am confident of our chances,” said Southwoods non-playing skipper Thirdy Escano. “Yes, I don’t recall anything like this happening before. This (third round gambit) worked out better than I planned.”

Katsuragawa, the club’s reigning champion, opened up with three straight birdies and never looked back, going bogey-free in a 32-34 card that was a fitting follow-up to a 72 churned out just a day back.

All told, Escano’s boys for the

third round drained a total of 14 birdies with Reyes responsible for an eagle on No. 8, a right-bending par-5 with a very small green as a target.

Jolo Magcalayo fired 41 points but got very little help from his support cast with only Luis Castro coming close to matching par with 35 and Canlubang counting the 29 of JP De Claro and either 26 of Jakey Yulo or Fernando Zaldarriaga for 131 and 389 overall.

After triumphing in Cebu in 2015 and at Mimosa in Clark Field last year, Southwoods will complete its first “three-peat” and will join an elite list of such champions in what is considered as the country’s unofficial team

golf championship.

Senior standout Eddie Bagtas matched par for 36 points and Dan Cruz fired 33 to lead Luisita to a 129 that had it regaining third place from Del Monte with a 361 tally, 12 points ahead of the Bukidnon-based bets.

Del Monte, which is using products of its grassroots development program, managed just 115 points led by Julius Bautista’s 31.

The 70th PAL Interclub Platinum sponsors are Mareco Broadcasting Network, A&E Networks Asia, RMN Networks, The Manila Standard, Fox Networks Group, Rolls-Royce, TV5, MasterCard, TFC and Business Mirror.

Gibbons wins Langkawi tour; Felipe is 3rd best in Asia PUTRAJAYA—WorldTour squad Dimension Data became the first team to win Le Tour de Langkawi on three consecutive editions with three different African riders as neo pro Ryan Gibbons, 22, followed the path of Algeria’s Youcef Reguigui and his compatriot Reinardt Janse van Rensburg from South Africa.

He finished fourth of the conclusive stage in Putrajaya won by Travis McCabe who made it two for Unitedhealthcare after he took stage 2 and regained the points competition as well, throughout the intermediate sprints as he won all three of them.

Marciano Felipe of 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines, meanwhile, emerged as the third Best Asian Rider.

“We wanted to race hard again today,” McCabe declared. “Typically when the race is hard and there are a few climbs, we can get rid of some heavy sprinters. The sprint came down to the last corner and I had Greg Henderson putting me in perfect position and I jumped at about 300 metres to go. Coming from doing the same job in the WorldTour, he makes my life so much easier!

Pretty much all I have to do is to put

my hands up. All the guys allowed me to get this win. We had a double goal as we really wanted [Daniel] Jaramillo to take the time bonuses to jump on the podium. He’s got a good kick. So I was not looking at the sprint jersey, I was more looking at the stage win.”

“This was my first time here. I’ll remember the beautiful landscapes of Malaysia. The people were fantastic.

That was awesome to see so many people out there cheering us on. I couldn’t ask for a better race to start off the season. I’m really happy that I came and we’ll be back next year.”

as the world no. 1 player with 2838 ELO points, while Caruana is third with 2817.

In fourth is Vladimir Kramnik (2811), followed by Maxine Vachier Lagrave (2803).

Analysts noted that this will be the first time there are five players, whose ratings are above 2800.

So, who is 16 points behind Carlsen, is deep in preparation for his next series of tournaments--the 2017 Grand Chess Tour.

In this series, Kramnik won’t be around, with Levon Aronian taking his place in the tournament, which will offer a total purse of $1.2 million.

The 23-year-old So and the world’s top nine players are coming, except Kramnik.

Carlsen, Caruana, Vachier-Lagravfe, Viswanathan Anand, Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura and Sergey Karjakin Ian Nepomniachtchi are joining. Peter Atencio

Games Today

Marciano Felipe of 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines displays his medal. RomanProspero

Garcia: 30 years of PAL Interclub and counting

By Randy Caluag

Garcia

CONSUMMATE golfer Richie Garcia has been a regular fixture of the Philippine Airlines Interclub and could not remember missing the tournament even just once for the past 30 years.

“Every year I make it a point to participate, I cannot remember a year na hindi ako nakasali,” said Garcia who was part of Luisita’s victorious runs in the Championship Division in the 1990s and later on in the Seniors’ Division in 2000 onwards.

Garcia played for various teams in the Interclub. Aside from Luisita Golf Club, he also played for Marapara (now known as Negros Golf and Country Club), Ba-

Neophytes face seasoned foes in PSL opening tiffs (FilOil Flying V Center) 2 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies 3 p.m. – Cocolife vs Generika-Ayala 5 p.m. – Foton vs Cignal 7 p.m. – Sta. Lucia vs Petron

Wesley now no. 2 in world chess ranking FILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So has officially risen to no. 2 in the world rankings.

According to the latest list provided by the International Chess Federation, So has overtaken Fabiano Caruana in the month of March with his ELO rating of 2822.

So’s ranking moved up after he won the 2017 Tata Steel Chess Tournament last January.

Norwegian Magnus Carlsen remains

SAN Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra are still figuring in their heated battle in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup finals, but both teams are already looking forward to next conference as well as they have already secured imports for the Commissioner’s Cup. For obvious reasons, the Gin Kings are set to bring back Justin Brownlee, their popular reinforcement, who helped them win the Governors’ Cup last season and end their eight-year title drought.

Brownlee will be their import for the next two conferences much to the delight of the team’s faithfuls.

Picking to go with Brownlee again for the Commissioner’s Cup, a conference wherein teams are allowed to tap imports with a height limit of 6’10” is both a gamble and a practical choice as well.

With star center Greg Slaughter still out with his ACL injury, ceiling might be a concern for Ginebra as Brownlee only stands at 6’5” and the other teams all got taller and lengthier imports.

The timetable for Slaughter’s return is set somewhere in the latter part of the Commissioner’s Cup or the seasonending Governors’ Cup. However, the team’s familiarity with Brownlee and the import’s high-caliber play are definitely bigger reasons for the team to go with him for the next two conferences.

On the other hand, the Beermen tapped a new face in 31-year-old Charles Rhodes, a veteran in the Korean Basketball League, where he played for Ulsan Mobis.

He also played college basketball in Mississippi State University in the United States.

Other teams that already have imports are Rain or Shine (Shawn Taggart), NLEX (Wayne Chism), Phoenix (Jarrid Famous), TNT KaTropa (Denzel Bowles), Meralco (Alex Stephenson), Star (Tony Mitchel) and Mahindra (James White).

colod Golf, Sta. Elena and currently the Manila Golf Club, where he’s a member for four years now.

“Dati dalawang team lang ang dominating. First it was Luisita, then Canlubang when it started forming formidable teams,” Garcia said.

He reminisced his days in Luisita, where he played alongside contemporaries Francis Gaston, Iggie Clavecilla, Minying Maravilla, Allan Gaston, Raul Gamban, Alex Montelibano and even former multi-awarded Cassius Casas, to name a few.

It used to be that only one golf club plays host to the annual golfing tradition.

“Ngayon dalawa nang golf clubs ang host kasi marami nang kasali, lumaki na

talaga,” said Garcia, referring to the tournament which is celebrating its 70th year.

“It has always been a tradition for us to play here. And I don’t see myself stopping in the near future.”

Recently retired from government service as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, Garcia said he now appreciates the real essence of retirement as he gets to enjoy spending more time now with his grandchildren and playing golf.

He plays in the Aviator Division for the Manila Golf that is running third behind Sherwood, Lumbia and Alta Vista after three rounds at the Apo Golf and Country Club and at the Palos Verdes courses.

NEOPHYTES Sta. Lucia and Cocolife get dunked on fire as they clash with seasoned foes as the Belo-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference fires off Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

A massive crowd is expected to show up as the Lady Realtors make their much-anticipated debut against powerhouse Petron at 7 p.m., while the Asset Managers will buckle down to business against a souped-up GenerikaAyala at 3 p.m. following the 2 p.m. opening ceremonies.

Another superpower in Cignal will also see action as it tackles Foton in the 5 p.m. match of this prestigious women’s volleyball tourney bankrolled by Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller and Grand Sport with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

After a glorious stint in the Philippine Basketball Association, hopes are high on Sta. Lucia as it parades a collection of NCAA stars led by Janine Navarro, Ranya Musa and Djanel Cheng, who made a mark when they powered College of Saint Benilde to a miraculous win over San Sebastian in the NCAA finals last year.

Michael Carino, the assistant coach of Sammy Acaylar in the men’s national team, will serve as mentor.

But surpassing their first test in this battle that also has UCPB Gen as official insurance provider and Gold’s Gym as official fitness partner will never be easy.

Meralco building modern coal plant B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

B1

5 Chinese firms investing $10.3b

By Othel V. Campos

F

IVE Chinese companies on Friday committed to the Board of Investments to invest about $10.3 billion in the Philippines.

BoI managing director and Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the Chinese commitments ranged from aviation to power generation projects.

“If before our relation with China was defined by resourcegenerating sectors, extractive industries and import-export trading, now it has really been deepening to investments and manufacturing activities,” he said in a press briefing.

China’s Liaoning Bora Enterprise Group Co. Ltd. pledged to invest $3 billion in an oil refinery, while Huili Investment

Fund Management Co. Ltd. committed to build a $3-billion integrated steel mill.

Dalian Wanyang Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. promised to build a $2.8-billion waste-topower generation project, while YiDingTai International plans to invest $1.5 billion for shipbuilding and ship repair facilities.

Aviation Industry Corp. of China International Aero-development Corp. did not disclose

its investment pledge.

“These projects are seen to further spur industrial development across the regions of the country, including those in the countryside. At the same time, with more business activities happening, we also provide better and quality job opportunities for our countrymen,” Rodolfo said.

AVIC International, a large state-owned enterprise in China, focuses on the manufacture and provision of helicopters, aircraft and aviation-related products, equipment and services. It is exploring opportunities in aerospace parts manufacturing, aviation maintenance and training.

The company also plans to team up with local companies on aerospace parts manufacturing, main-

tenance-repair-overhaul facilities and other industrial sectors.

Liaoning Bora and its Philippine partner, meanwhile, agreed on a joint venture in the construction and operation of retail network, oil storage terminal, refinery projects and allied industries in the Philippines.

Dalian Wanyang is doing a feasibility study on a 4,000 to 5,000 metric ton waste-to-energy gasification project that can generate up to 312 megawatts of power using municipal solid waste collected from homes and businesses. The preliminary results of the study are expected to be ready by the end of March 2017.

YDT International, an affiliate company of Dalian Wanyang Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., plans

to build frontier-island, regional size vessels with 15,000 deadweight tons and below, including advanced ship/vessel designing, manufacture, repair, sales and financial support to support the Philippines’ roll-on roll-off operations.

Huili Investment is setting up a world-class integrated steel mill, sharing its advance technological know-how in support of the Philippines’ bid to be a major producer of high-quality and safe steel products by 2030.

The Chinese investments are estimated to contribute at least 15,500 jobs to the Philippine workforce.

China’s new commitments could boost approved investments by triple digits in 2017 from just P1.52 billion in 2016.

IN BRIEF MAV rice deadline not extended—NFA THE National Food Authority said Friday it did not extend the February 28, 2017 deadline for rice imports covered by the minimum access volume scheme.

NFA made the clarification following reports that the deadline was extended to March 31 this year.

“There’s no need to extend the deadline because there were others, including farmer cooperatives, that participated in the MAV and have complied with the deadline,” NFA administrator Jason Laureano Aquino said.

“If these coops can do it, why can’t the others?” Aquino asked.

He said local farmers were currently harvesting their summer crop and the arrival of rice imports could dampen the price of their produce.

Two hundred eleven farmer cooperatives and private businessmen applied for the importation of 692,340 metric tons of rice under the MAV, a commitment under the provisions of the the World Trade Organization.

Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Big budget gap to boost growth

DoF says cigarette firms face big fines FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III warned that cigarette firms found to be violating the stamp tax law will pay the government large sums of money as they deprive the government of millions of pesos in unpaid taxes.

Dominguez issued the warning after the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue agents recently seized P2 billion worth of fake cigarettes in warehouses in Pampanga, General Santos and Zamboanga.

The raid resulted in the confiscation of 23.2 million packs of cigarettes allegedly manufactured by local cigarette maker Mighty Corp. with fake tax stamps. Authorities said unpaid excise taxes due to the use of counterfeit tax stamps affixed on Mighty cigarette packs would reach around P600 million.

“Of course, they have to pay if proven their tax stamps are fake. Or else, we will confiscate all the cigarettes because they are illegal,” Dominguez said at the sidelines of a briefing at Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday.

“So far we have caught one company, but we are also looking at other companies that have violated the stamp tax law,” Dominguez said.

He said charges might be filed against those involved in the illegal activities.

“First, they have to put the documents together and everything. We also want to thank [Customs commissioner] [Nicanor] Faeldon for taking the initiative here,” Dominguez said.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue earlier said it was considering new designs of cigarette tax stamps with improved security features to prevent the proliferation of fake ones that affect the government’s tax collection on tobacco products.

Deputy Commissioner Jesus Clint Aranas of the BIR’s legal and inspection group said in an earlier interview the stamps’ security features were something that the agency would have to improve on. Julito G. Rada

FDA VISITORS. Philippine Food and Drug Administration director-general Nela Charade Puno (left) welcomes the Ambassador of Hungary to the Philippines Bencze Jozsef (second from right) and Deputy Chief of Mission David Ambrus (right), on a recent courtesy call to the FDA head where they discussed the interest of Hungarian companies in the introduction of meat products such as sausage and salami products to the Philippine market. With them is Katrina Borra (second from left) of the office of the FDA director-general.

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the larger budget deficit of P353.4 billion in 2016 will result in an inclusive and strong economic growth for the country.

Dominguez said in a statement Friday although the deficit last year was higher than P121.7 billion a year ago, it was well within the Duterte administration’s target of 2.7 percent of the gross domestic product.

He said it was also in keeping with a commitment to start spending big on three priority areas to sustain high growth, attract investments and create jobs, accelerate poverty reduction and transform the Philippines into an upper middle-income economy by 2022.

Dominguez said that Malacañang’s decision to ramp up public spending had helped the economy sustain the growth momentum in the second semester of 2016.

Julito G. Rada

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing March 3, 2017

Peso slumps further to 50.40 against US dollar

By Julito G. Rada THE peso continued to post multi-year lows against the greenback Friday, weighed down by both external and domestic developments that trigger volatilities in the financial markets.

The peso further weakened to a fresh 10-year low to close at 50.40, nine centavos weaker than 50.31 on Thursday. It was the peso’s lowest level in more than 10 years since 50.43 on Sept. 12, 2006. Total volume traded reached $482 million, higher than $409 million in the previous day.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said some of the domestic factors affecting the peso were the possible repercussions from other countries to Congress’

passage of the death penalty law and the market expectation that larger fiscal deficit spending would widen the trade gap and bring the current account to a deficit.

He said “this underpins the strong demand for US dollar as companies hedge dollar liabilities or liabilities. Market also expects monetary policy to remain steady in the very near term. These considered with the monetary tightening cycle in the US would lead to further weakness of peso... ,” Cuyegkeng said.

Cuyegkeng said the chances of a rate hike at the March meeting of the US Fed increased to 90 percent from a week ago’s 40 percent.

Cuyegkeng also said another factor that contributed to the

declining peso was the uncertainty “over the leadership in Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas after BSP Governor [Amando] Tetangco [Jr.] leaves.” Tetangco’s second term of office will expire in July this year.

Earlier, Amando Tetangco said currencies in the emerging market economies, including the peso, were seen to trade sideways ahead as financial markets await for clarity on the next moves of the US Federal Reserve.

Tetangco issued the statement after US President Donald Trump’s speech before the US Congress a day ago, where he said he was open to immigration reforms, shifting from his harsh statements on illegal immigration. But Trump did not provide specifics and did

not comment on the proposed border adjustment tax to boost exports over imports.

“The market may turn its focus again on the Fed and expectations of its next moves. The peso and other EME currencies would likely trade in a relatively narrow band until more clarity comes from US policy makers,” Tetangco said.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. said the peso would remain under pressure throughout this year amid volatile financial markets. It said the uncertainties surrounding the Fed rate hikes, Trump’s economic and fiscal policies, and Brexit negotiations were the main factors that influence the depreciation trend of emerging market currencies like the Philippine peso against the US dollar.

EastWest’s 2016 profit surged by 70% to P3.4b

SECURITY BANK AWARDS. Security Bank chief financial of-

ficer Joselito Mape (center) receives three awards from Global RMB Editor Paolo Danese (left)and Euromoney Editor and Asiamoney Editor-in-Chief Clive Horwood (right) at the recent Asiamoney Awards in Hong Kong. The bank was recognized as ‘Best Managed Company in the Philippines–Medium Cap,’ ‘Best in Investor Relations in the Philippines’ and ‘Best Executive in the Philippines’ for Security Bank chairman Alberto Villarosa.

EASTWEST Banking Corp., the financial services subsidiary of the Filinvest Group, said net income in 2016 jumped 70 percent to P3.4 billion from P2 billion in 2015 on the sustained growth of its core businesses.

EastWest president and chief executive Antonio Moncupa Jr. said in a statement the 2016 performance was a result of the bank’s expansion program that began four years ago. “... This puts behind us the worst of the initial pain of the program that brought us to have the seventh largest store network but kept our income flat at P2.0 billion in the previous three years,” Moncupa said.

“Our productivity is improving as the overhead cost related to the expansion of the last three years

gain traction. And that is just the start. We expect further improvement in operating leverage and subsequently, better returns to our investors in the coming years,” Moncupa said.

Net revenues grew 34 percent to P22 billion, while operating expenses rose 21 percent to P12 billion.

Total assets increased 25 percent to P292 billion, led by the 51-percent increase in the consumer loan portfolio. East West’s core recurring income rose 25 percent.

The bank sustained its industryleading net interest margin of 7.7 percent. Net interest margin, net of provisions for loan losses, was recorded at 4.9 percent, still the highest among universal and commercial banks.Julito G. Rada

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,247.12 12.18

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing MARCH 3, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P50.400 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.315 LOW P50.400 AVERAGE P50.373 VOLUME 482.100M

P500.00-P760.00 LPG/11-kg tank P40.15-P49.25 Unleaded Gasoline P28.75-P34.65 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, March 3, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.3070

Japan

Yen

0.008743

0.4398

UK

Pound

1.226700

61.7116

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128828

6.4810

Switzerland

Franc

0.986875

49.6467

Canada

Dollar

0.746436

37.5510

Singapore

Dollar

0.708065

35.6206

Australia

Dollar

0.757000

38.0824

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652590

133.4438

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266738

13.4188

Brunei

Dollar

0.705567

35.4950

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.028589

1.4382

UAE

Dirham

0.272331

13.7002

Euro

Euro

1.050900

52.8676

Korea

Won

0.000869

0.0437

China

Yuan

0.145134

7.3013

India

Rupee

0.014979

0.7535

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224871

11.3126

New Zealand

Dollar

0.706500

35.5419

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032355

1.6277 Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks up; Ayala LT Group rise T HE stock market rose slightly Friday in mixed trading, partly buoyed up by increased government spending that led to a bigger budget deficit in 2016.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 12.18 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,247.12 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 92 to 81. with 61 issues unchanged.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the larger budget deficit of P353.4 billion incurred in 2016 would result in an inclusive and strong economic growth.

He said the wider budget gap was in keeping with government’s commitment to start spending big to sustain high growth, attract investments and create jobs.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. gained 2.1 percent to P820, while LT Group Inc. of tobacco and airline tycoon Lucio Tan climbed 2.1 percent to P15.28.

Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. tumbled 3.9 percent to P8.28, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution and hospitals dropped 1.4 percent to P6.88.

The rest of Asian equity markets fell on Friday after a broad global rally, but the dollar strengthened against most other currencies as traders become increasingly confident the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates this month.

Share traders headed for the door ahead of the weekend, after the week’s surge.

Tokyo ended 0.5 percent lower, with dealers brushing off news that Japanese consumer prices rose last month for the first time in almost a year.

Hong Kong sank 0.6 percent in the afternoon while Shanghai ended 0.4 percent

off, Seoul slipped 1.1 percent, Singapore shed 0.7 percent and Sydney dived 0.8 percent.

There were also big losses in Taipei and Wellington.

Investors took their cash off the table on profit-taking Thursday after the previous day’s surge fueled by Donald Trump’s address to Congress, in which he promised massive infrastructure spending and tax cuts.

But with Fed boss Janet Yellen due to speak Friday the greenback has bounced back as experts say the bank is odds-on to tighten monetary policy in the face of an improving US economy.

Comments from three top Fed officials, including a noted dove, have cemented those expectations.

“The Fed rate hike balloon has successfully been floated, and the market has continued to reprice the March rate hike probability fueled by the dove of doves, Lael Brainard, who came out ‘hawks-a-

blazing’ at exactly the appropriate time,” said senior OANDS trader Stephen Innes in a note.

“With Brainard flying the dove’s coup, she has tipped the scales in overwhelming favor of a rate hike as the market now views March as fait accompli.”

The dollar, which has swung wildly as investors try to gauge Trump’s plans and veiled Fed messages, broke above 114 yen for the first time in two weeks in Asia on Thursday and pressed on through the day.

In Tokyo it was down against the yen but well up from the levels below 112 yen touched earlier in the week, while it maintained recent gains against the euro and pound.

However, it surged against higher-yielding and emerging market currencies. It jumped more than one percent against South Korea’s won, 0.2 percent on the Indonesian rupiah and 0.8 percent versus Australia’s dollar. The New Zealand and Singapore dollars were also sharply lower. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.4 2,000 48.35 5,600 96.8 1,409,280 4.3 13,000 117.6 3,441,690 1.26 5,000 40 83,200 16 99,900 19.96 1,474,400 7.73 100 1.7 135,000 840 620 0.66 1,788,000 81.5 1,673,480 0.74 4,000 14.54 62,500 26.3 6,400 57.25 7,330 239 2,820 113 620 89.2 230 39.65 30,000 198 438,730 1,790 160 79.95 34,820 1.22 2,000

6,660 270,655 135,650,525 56,430 404,664,377 6,300 3,327,200 1,598,400 29,526,691 773 229,030 520,800 1,189,930 136,061,721 2,960 908,270 167,800 420,564.50 674,666 71,700 20,532 1,197,825 86,815,563 281,750 2,766,891 2,440

241,645 -17,977,854.50 -54,546,860 -792,000 -1,580,800 -2,762,907 252,000 22,008,684.50 2,610 -229,477.50 238,600 -497,615 -34,070,890 -150 1,216,700.50 -

43 5.4 0.84 1.44 19 0.28 97 8.15 16.38 23.05 14.7 95 99 2.12 6.1 11.96 12.78 7.85 6.86 5.79 1.76 21.1 72.9 12.3 16.88 6.5 1.7 200 73.5 7.4 3.75 31 26.3 15.1 291.8 0.265 6.61 3.49 8.78 3.76 11.54 2.3 7 1.83 77.85 5.04 266.8 5 2.75 12.2 4.39 0.146 1.45 161.4 1.68 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 43.75 916,000 5.5 503,700 0.85 214,000 1.47 679,000 19.8 15,400 0.285 6,920,000 98.15 140 8.28 27,443,500 16.66 2,044,100 23.5 187,200 14.7 9,900 95 350 100 5,470 2.17 155,000 6.1 12,400 11.96 3,300 12.82 3,993,500 7.85 161,400 6.9 3,790,200 5.82 6,098,900 1.76 5,000 21.3 495,200 73.1 19,270 12.3 8,500 16.88 585,400 6.56 100,900 1.7 475,000 201 471,400 73.5 10 7.95 3,020,600 3.87 9,000 31.4 1,009,500 26.9 1,040,200 15.34 5,419,400 293.6 38,620 0.265 17,000,000 6.69 40,600 3.5 291,000 8.87 1,495,800 3.76 15,000 11.56 1,200 2.3 299,000 7.03 601,500 1.88 617,000 77.9 1,197,210 5.04 3,900 266.8 200 5 42,000 2.75 3,000 12.66 5,833,500 4.52 39,000 0.146 1,050,000 1.48 408,000 163 1,973,160 1.7 1,037,000 1.06 203,000

39,930,660 2,769,081 180,650 988,950 295,262 1,980,700 13,660.50 228,269,067 33,898,486 4,376,930 145,594 33,428 546,990 333,020 75,640 39,550 51,201,624 1,269,736 26,333,110 35,493,890 8,800 10,524,140 1,410,164 104,564 9,915,132 659,617 807,670 94,861,258 735 23,797,580 34,450 31,551,375 27,840,800 83,103,712 11,308,868 4,700,550 270,611 1,022,390 13,201,673 57,310 13,856 687,950 4,254,483 1,155,960 93,419,169.50 19,656 53,360 210,000 8,250 72,928,462 172,730 153,520 594,730 321,456,287 1,756,150 215,200

111,080 717,670 -2,900 -77,196,138 27,076,280 -143,350 -500,000 14,491,226 -580,023 -3,963,261 -3,450,914 -990,005 -47,610 2,768,038 312,482 -28,389,552 103,215 9,555,245 -9,628,815 -4,192,950 -1,043,380 25,100 330,370 -10,239,538 533,600.00 -355,000 -28,150 -3,115,621 -30,000 28,537,584 1,535,500 -10,320 -

0.395 73 12.68 1.18 6.35 0.395 820 8.89 13.06 0.185 1,216 77.2 4.49 1.24 7.88 15.34 0.43 6.96 0.058 1.98 2.49 107 3.3 663.5 1.56 268.6 0.295 0.26

0.375 72.2 12.46 1.18 6.28 0.38 793.5 8.77 12.9 0.184 1,200 75.6 4.49 1.15 7.78 14.68 0.42 6.88 0.056 1.98 2.49 106 2.7 655 1.53 267.6 0.29 0.255

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 830,000 73 1,109,590 12.5 11,509,000 1.18 1,000 6.3 59,000 0.395 4,540,000 820 264,600 8.88 4,434,100 13.06 2,602,200 0.184 810,000 1,210 173,660 77.2 760,510 4.49 12,000 1.15 72,481,000 7.88 663,700 15.28 8,639,700 0.42 1,010,000 6.88 21,331,500 0.058 47,610,000 1.98 330,000 2.49 6,000 107 268,860 3.3 2,457,000 656.5 237,150 1.55 105,000 268 14,530 0.29 750,000 0.255 100,000

317,400 80,753,406.50 144,211,846 1,180 371,429 1,739,400 215,020,050 39,087,039 33,902,208 149,410 209,905,030 58,411,526 53,880 86,771,730 5,206,376 130,964,016 426,900 147,111,171 2,724,990 653,400 14,940 28,623,902 7,724,890 155,712,275 161,940 3,894,046 218,500 25,550

1,440,766 -78,745,274 70,740,745 8,196,395 -8,321,550 -17,595,795 6,740,981.50 163,280 -3,228,848 -51,570,434 85,000 -38,709,038 -92,220 29,700 -15,056,080 30,100.00 -133,398,240 -3,060 -343,048 22,950

6.7 1.02 2.55 1.52 36.1 3.7 5.05 5.6 0.52 1.03 1.33 0.163 0.56 54 0.72 0.157 1.66 0.99 1.29

6.59 1.01 2.42 1.46 35.3 3.55 5.05 5.6 0.5 1.03 1.27 0.16 0.55 52.3 0.71 0.157 1.64 0.98 1.23

PROPERTY 6.59 424,800 1.02 154,000 2.52 580,000 1.49 20,986,000 35.8 11,757,400 3.63 13,022,000 5.05 15,600 5.6 10,000 0.51 25,719,000 1.03 5,000 1.27 36,000 0.16 26,390,000 0.56 1,672,000 54 259,460 0.71 2,000 0.157 10,000 1.65 9,891,000 0.98 1,526,000 1.23 67,000

2,818,446 155,560 1,420,960 31,128,800 421,770,865 47,114,700 78,780 56,000 13,123,040 5,150 47,820 4,231,070 919,810 13,852,566 1,430 1,570 16,324,740 1,503,170 82,670

-1,484,644 -111,320 -480,900 -12,033,270 -9,534,600 -10,734,990 -3,240 245,300 1,423,794.50 78,560 -

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 3.26 ASIA UNITED 48.35 BANK PH ISLANDS 96.2 BDO LEASING 4.35 BDO UNIBANK 117.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.26 CHINABANK 39.95 COL FINANCIAL 16 EAST WEST BANK 19.98 FILIPINO FUND 7.73 IREMIT 1.69 MANULIFE 840 MEDCO HLDG 0.66 METROBANK 80 NTL REINSURANCE 0.74 PB BANK 14.5 PBCOM 26.1 PHIL NATL BANK 57.6 PHIL STOCK EXCH 240 PHILTRUST 116 PSBANK 90 RCBC 40.5 SECURITY BANK 200.2 SUN LIFE 1,760 UNION BANK 79.05 VANTAGE 1.22

3.4 48.35 97 4.35 117.9 1.26 40 16 20.15 7.73 1.7 840 0.68 81.75 0.74 14.54 26.3 57.6 240 118 90 40.5 200.2 1,790 79.95 1.22

3.26 48 94.9 4.3 117 1.26 39.95 16 19.92 7.73 1.69 840 0.66 80 0.74 14.5 26.1 57 238.6 113 89.2 39.6 197 1,760 79.05 1.22

ABOITIZ POWER 43.2 AGRINURTURE 5.5 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.85 ALSONS CONS 1.47 ASIABEST GROUP 20.15 BASIC ENERGY 0.29 BOGO MEDELLIN 97 CEMEX HLDG 8.5 CENTURY FOOD 16.7 CIRTEK HLDG 23.35 CNTRL AZUCARERA14.7 CONCRETE A 95 CONCRETE B 99 CROWN ASIA 2.15 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.1 DEL MONTE 12 DNL INDUS 13.06 EEI CORP 7.87 EMPERADOR 6.89 ENERGY DEVT 5.8 EUROMED 1.76 FIRST GEN 21.35 FIRST PHIL HLDG 73.8 GINEBRA 12.44 HOLCIM 17.18 INTEGRATED MICR 6.54 IONICS 1.7 JOLLIBEE 203.4 LIBERTY FLOUR 73.5 LMG CHEMICALS 7.5 MABUHAY VINYL 3.89 MANILA WATER 31.65 MAXS GROUP 26.85 MEGAWIDE 15.88 MERALCO 293 MG HLDG 0.29 PANASONIC 6.71 PEPSI COLA 3.5 PETRON 8.78 PHIL H2O 3.84 PHINMA 11.56 PHINMA ENERGY 2.32 PHX PETROLEUM 7.01 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.84 PILIPINAS SHELL 78 PRYCE CORP 5.04 PUREFOODS 266.8 RFM CORP 5 ROXAS HLDG 2.75 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.48 SPC POWER 4.39 SWIFT FOODS 0.147 TKC METALS 1.49 UNIV ROBINA 163 VITARICH 1.72 VULCAN INDL 1.07

43.75 5.56 0.85 1.47 20.2 0.295 98.15 8.65 16.74 23.5 14.72 97.2 100 2.17 6.1 12.06 13.06 7.9 6.99 5.89 1.76 21.35 73.8 12.44 17.18 6.59 1.71 203.4 73.5 8.04 3.89 31.65 26.9 15.88 293.6 0.29 6.71 3.54 8.87 3.88 11.56 2.32 7.13 1.9 78.3 5.04 266.8 5 2.75 12.7 4.52 0.147 1.49 163.3 1.72 1.07

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG ZEUS HLDG

0.39 72.9 12.68 1.18 6.35 0.385 803 8.89 13.06 0.185 1,216 76.4 4.49 1.18 7.8 14.96 0.43 6.96 0.057 1.98 2.49 107 2.7 663.5 1.55 268.6 0.295 0.26

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CEBU PROP A CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP

6.64 1.01 2.55 1.48 36.1 3.57 5.05 5.6 0.52 1.03 1.33 0.161 0.55 53.2 0.72 0.157 1.64 0.99 1.23

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

4.08 3.74 0.161 0.32 0.57 4.78 23.2 1.7 3.26 28.65 1.03 0.91 4.87

2GO GROUP 7.95 ABS CBN 46.6 ACESITE HOTEL 1.48 APC GROUP 0.54 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.066 ASIAN TERMINALS 10.84 BLOOMBERRY 7.51 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.066 CALATA CORP 2.49 CEBU AIR 93 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.8 DFNN INC 8.85 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.38 FAR EASTERN U 950 GLOBE TELECOM 1,805 GMA NETWORK 6.13 GOLDEN HAVEN 16.3 GRAND PLAZA 15.3 HARBOR STAR 3.5 IMPERIAL 3.72 INTL CONTAINER 76 IP EGAME 0.0092 IPEOPLE 11.92 IPM HLDG 9.02 ISLAND INFO 0.193 ISM COMM 1.36 JACKSTONES 3.16 LBC EXPRESS 14.18 LEISURE AND RES 3.88 MACROASIA 3.09 MELCO CROWN 5.2 METRO RETAIL 3.8 MLA BRDCASTING 18.2 NOW CORP 2.78 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.2 PAL HLDG 5.52 PAXYS 3.29 PHILWEB 9.15 PLDT 1,425 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.41 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.42 PUREGOLD 46 ROBINSONS RTL 80 SBS PHIL CORP 6.16 SSI GROUP 2.44 STI HLDG 1.13 TRANSPACIFIC BR 1.67 TRAVELLERS 3.24 WATERFRONT 0.41

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

4.08 3.76 0.166 0.32 0.61 4.79 23.5 1.72 3.3 29.05 1.1 0.91 4.87

4.05 3.7 0.161 0.32 0.56 4.71 23 1.7 3.26 28.5 1.02 0.91 4.75

4.05 3.71 0.165 0.32 0.59 4.75 23.15 1.7 3.27 29 1.06 0.91 4.86

14,000 10,180,000 10,570,000 40,000 29,339,000 361,000 2,004,400 752,000 138,000 4,801,800 45,268,000 8,000 1,417,000

56,760 37,909,220 1,738,030 12,800 17,016,020 1,706,630 46,355,805 1,279,090 454,480 138,187,145 48,305,530 7,280 6,816,010

15,304,860 -88,900 -20,769,235 -6,560 -6,472,815 -72,100 -1,943,820

7.95 46.95 1.49 0.55 0.068 11 7.51 0.066 2.52 94 9.84 9 2.38 950 1,835 6.13 16.5 15.3 3.6 4.4 76 0.0093 11.92 9.06 0.194 1.36 3.16 14.38 3.89 3.33 5.2 3.82 18.2 2.83 11.2 5.52 3.35 9.2 1,463 1.42 0.425 46 80 6.25 2.6 1.14 1.75 3.24 0.41

7.9 45.5 1.48 0.53 0.062 10.84 7.37 0.065 2.44 90.2 9.73 8.77 2.38 950 1,802 6.08 16.26 15.3 3.49 3.72 75 0.0092 11.9 9.02 0.189 1.35 3.16 14.18 3.84 3.09 5.08 3.8 18.2 2.71 11.1 5.52 3.29 8.96 1,425 1.39 0.41 45.45 79.9 6.15 2.42 1.13 1.63 3.21 0.385

SERVICES 7.9 43,600 46.05 17,100 1.49 12,000 0.53 205,000 0.063 548,770,000 11 788,800 7.37 1,187,000 0.065 4,340,000 2.44 2,468,000 90.95 129,180 9.82 8,900 9 621,100 2.38 3,000 950 2,700 1,835 37,210 6.13 129,100 16.5 65,100 15.3 600 3.59 2,878,000 4.14 2,410,000 75 2,721,330 0.0093 9,000,000 11.9 1,600 9.06 410,000 0.192 17,420,000 1.35 294,000 3.16 5,000 14.38 500 3.86 2,921,000 3.32 2,516,000 5.19 897,300 3.82 558,000 18.2 400 2.82 851,000 11.2 1,513,300 5.52 2,000 3.29 22,000 9.09 391,300 1,447 70,765 1.42 4,282,000 0.41 1,180,000 45.5 1,884,700 80 977,250 6.17 134,200 2.44 13,150,000 1.13 6,916,000 1.75 18,000 3.22 50,000 0.385 660,000

345,550 787,505 17,810 111,370 35,466,990 8,665,724 8,798,844 282,800 6,123,700 11,960,573 87,025 5,561,888 7,140 2,565,000 67,954,115 788,404 1,070,938 9,180 10,223,200 10,080,590 204,234,215.50 83,100 19,060 3,712,200 3,323,180 397,070 15,800 7,110 11,278,610 8,139,820 4,622,437 2,128,370 7,280 2,388,290 16,948,908 11,040 72,440 3,547,009 102,335,110 6,030,840 492,900 85,925,975 78,169,721.50 828,445 31,976,770 7,819,390 29,760 160,670 258,400

-138,500 -765,500 -1,491,141 6,500 -412,190.50 -263,400.00 31,152,320 -531,900 -8,560 585,767.50 95,000 135,000 -10,291,380 -2,633,350 339,302 -8,080 69,090 -481,108 53,428,165 -1,150,550 -42,930,685 6,031,788.50 -2,059,210 5,160,580 -12,870 -

124,600 2,507,410 250,080 87,840 217,050 97,600 546,676 9,962,750 114,000 279,370 96,950 83,600 544,500 961,530 9,281,286 315,140 9,200 699,500 5,500 16,630 2,918,100 3,725,807 10,149,260 29,605,990 31,420 9,000

-13,667 14,400 2,295,100 570,570 -2,110,384 507,086 -389,000 3,445,688 -

MS ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PETROENERGY PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM UNITED PARAGON

0.0032 1.86 5.67 1.83 0.48 0.45 10.24 2.55 0.255 0.187 0.195 0.011 0.011 1.92 6.72 2.48 0.46 0.9 0.011 4.22 0.014 9.49 3.43 146.6 2.84 0.009

0.0033 1.93 5.74 1.83 0.48 0.45 10.8 2.65 0.255 0.187 0.195 0.011 0.011 1.96 6.82 2.48 0.46 0.92 0.011 4.22 0.015 9.49 3.46 147.1 2.9 0.009

0.0032 1.86 5.67 1.83 0.46 0.44 10.22 2.55 0.247 0.186 0.193 0.011 0.011 1.92 6.72 2.3 0.46 0.89 0.011 4.13 0.014 9.3 3.28 145.6 2.84 0.009

MINING & OIL 0.0033 38,000,000 1.87 1,327,000 5.7 43,900 1.83 48,000 0.47 470,000 0.445 220,000 10.28 53,200 2.64 3,817,000 0.247 460,000 0.186 1,500,000 0.193 500,000 0.011 7,600,000 0.011 49,500,000 1.95 494,000 6.76 1,371,800 2.38 132,000 0.46 20,000 0.9 778,000 0.011 500,000 4.13 4,000 0.014 208,400,000 9.3 399,600 3.28 3,039,000 146.2 202,560 2.9 11,000 0.009 1,000,000

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2I

47 529 529 105 530 5.85 106 1,020 76.55 76.6 81 79.15

47 529 529 105.5 530 5.85 106 1,020 76.55 76.6 81 79.5

45.65 528 529 105 530 5.84 104.3 1,020 76.55 76.6 80 79

PREFERRED 46.9 45,500 528 2,000 529 200 105 74,900 530 1,500 5.85 1,917,600 104.3 99,800 1,020 320 76.55 62,400 76.6 2,000 80 30,000 79.4 1,227,800

2,103,700 1,056,050 105,800 7,866,745 795,000 11,217,957 10,413,559 326,400 4,776,720 153,200 2,400,310 97,482,565

-354,370 -1,258,920 644,574 95,280,000

LR WARRANT

2.12

2.19

2.06

WARRANTS 2.15 78,000

162,080

-

3.69 6.99 8.43

3.5 6.75 8.16

SME 3.55 6.82 8.34

644,660 885,420 32,546,860

-19,455,202

119.9

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.9 119.1 10,690

1,273,314

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.69 6.99 8.35

FIRST METRO ETF 119.9

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

11,228,749 98,111,236 184,437,280

PROPERTY

219,503,086

SERVICES

646,583,265

MINING & OIL

320,915,363

GRAND TOTAL

1,485,060,569

182,000 129,600 3,959,300

VALUE 1,802.32 (up) 2.24 854,665,292.29 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,096.38 (down) 12.01 1,251,228,536.37 HOLDING FIRMS 7,345.90 (up) 5.07 1,460,173,575.03 PROPERTY 3,259.13 (up) 7.06 SERVICES 1,418.14 (up) 2.46 934,384,453.69 MINING & OIL 12,349.59 (down) 53.98 814,887,537.45 PSEI 7,247.12 (up) 12.18 116,481,318.157 All Shares Index 4,385.86 (up) 6.99 5,467,170,966.99 Gainers:81; Losers: 92; Unchanged: 61; Total: 234

Meralco building modern coal plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores ATIMONAN One Energy Inc., controlled by Meralco PowerGen Corp., is set to build this year the country’s first so-called ultra supercritical coal-fired power plant with a generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts in Atimonan, Quezon this year.

Manila Electric Co. president Oscar Reyes told reporters the move to upgrade the plant from a supercritical pulverized coal station aimed to address environmental and efficiency concerns.

“Ultra supercritical is the most fully efficient, most environmental friendly technology as far as coal-fired power plants are concerned.

It’s more expensive but more efficient,” Reyes said.

Meralco PowerGen, Meralco’s power generation unit, is currently in talks with a prospective contractor for the engineering, procurement and construction phases of the plant.

Meralco PowerGen senior vice president Angelito Lantin said the company expects to complete the EPC negotiations by the second quarter.

“Site preparation works are targeted to start in mid 2017.

Expected completion of unit 1 is late 2021,” Lantin said.

Company officials earlier said Meralco PowerGen was in discussions with “a number of potential partners, all with experience in development, construction and operations of super-critical coal-fired power plants, and a strong appetite for Philippine investments.”

Atimonan One has signed a 20-year power supply agreement with Meralco on the full output of the power plant. The supply contract is pending approval with the Energy Regulatory Commission.

AirAsia introduces e-boarding pass in PH

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Philippine unit of Southeast Asia’s largest budget airline said it has introduced eboarding pass on all domestic flights in the county.

AirAsia’s “E-Boarding Pass” is a paperless boarding pass that allows guests without check-in-baggage to proceed straight to the boarding gate without having to queue at the check-in counter or desk at the airport.

Guests with check-in-baggage, however, are required to proceed to bag drop counter first before going to the boarding gate.

“We are constantly investing in technology to make flying easier, more enjoyable, and comfortable for our guests. With the expected surge of travelers this summer, e-boarding pass will significantly reduce time spent queueing at airport counters,” Philippines AirAsia chief executive Dexter Comendador said.

E-Boarding pass is available on all AirAsia domestic flights departing from airports in Manila’s NAIA Terminal 4, Cebu, Kalibo, Davao, Tacloban, Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran in the Philippines.

It is limited to one guest in one booking only and is currently unavailable for international flights and Fly-Thru bookings or those with multiple flights.

AirAsia, which operates a fleet of 14 aircraft offers several flights to and from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Tagbilaran/ Bohol, Boracay (via Caticlan and Kalibo), and Tacloban.

Home / Design

B3

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PRO-MUSLIM HOUSING PROJECT BREAKS GROUND IN ZAMBOANGA M ore than 100 informal settler families belonging to Multi-tribal Phase 1 Homeowner’s Association (MTHOA) recently received new homes at a 1.6-hectare housing project in Mampang, Zamboanga City, courtesy of the Social Housing Finance Corporation’s (SHFC).

The pilot project, under the Community Mortgage Program (CMP), was financed with a total loan amount costing P10.43M, and was entered under a usufruct agreement: SHFC will pay the landowner in behalf of MTHOA. Two years after, MTHOA will start paying their monthly amortization to SHFC. The housing project is a breakthrough for CMP since some guidelines were modified to respond to the customs and tradition of the Muslims, including the conversion of the 6% annual interest into ijara fee which is equivalent to reward or wages for a work done or rendered.

The practice of polygamy, house design, and leadership titles were also taken into consideration in drafting the policy.

MAKE MINE OAK HARBOR RESIDENCES. DMCI Homes Exclusive, the luxury brand of property developer DMCI Homes, recently cited robust demand behind the Aston, the third and final residential building of Oak Harbor Residences in Bay City. Its launch follows the sales success of its first two buildings, Westport and Lauderdale, with sales take up totalling PhP 2.9 billion. Oak Harbor Residences is the first high-end project of DMCI Homes Exclusive, the developer’s initial venture into the luxury market. It occupies a 12,000 square meter property in front of Manila Bay. The launch of luxury projects at Bay City, such as the Okada Hotel and Casino, City of Dreams, and the expansion of Solaire, have spurred demand for high-end residential properties despite limited supply.

SHARIA COMPLIANT. A model house of the community.

Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia & Engineering Department, ZAMPEN Urban Poor Alliance, Inc., LGU Zamboanga, Western Mindanao State University, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (Commissioner Roque Santos Morales & Region IX).

SHFC President Ma. Ana Oliveros said that SHFC will continue to part-

ner with other agencies in order to polish the policies of a culturally-sensitive housing finance that will respond to the needs of Muslims all over the Philippines. She also stressed SHFC’s thrust of providing more efficient services through streamlined processes.

“We will journey together in order to provide more accessible housing for the poor,” Oliveros said.

Multi-sectoral partnership

Responding to the need for the development of an innovative and culturally-sensitive housing program, various sectors partnered in this project, including Ateneo de Davao University - Al Qalam Institute for Islamic

GROUND-BREAKING. Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) officials

and representatives from various non- government organizations and the local government at the opening of the pilot project.

STATE OF GRACE. Real estate developer, Stateland Inc. recently launched its newest project, San Francisco Heights at its annual conference in Pasay City. The development, which covers 23 hectares of land in Palo Alto, Calamba, Laguna, offers Mediterranean-style houses ranging from 36sqm to 83sqm, packaged within a minimum lot area of 110sqm. The conference is Stateland’s yearly event to give recognition to its marketing partners. “Through the 40 years of Stateland’s existence, we have witnessed your transformation from that of our external sellers, to business partners, and eventually, to become our dear friends,” said company president Reynaldo T. Cometa. Later, Cometa presented this year’s promotions and incentives starting from cash incentives to trips to various Asian destinations (See photo), including a trip to San Francisco, U.S.A. as the grand prize.

RECIO PUTS STAMP ON STRATFORD. Picar Development is currently touting the 74-hectares Stratford Residences along Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City as the tallest residential tower in the Philippines. Known for groundbreaking projects in prime locations, Picar is building up the 1.3-hectare development as a benchmark for new trends in lifestyle, culinary innovations, and global hospitality. Renowned architect Jose Pedro Recio, the man behind Rchitects Inc., was tapped by Picar to beef up the edifice’s structural engineering, while interior designers Ivy and Cynthia Almario of Atelier Almario worked their magic to provide functional luxury to the project.

DESIGN AND EFFICIENCY. A 32-storey tower designed by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) will soon rise in Bonifacio Global City. As the only PEZA-accredited space built for locators in 2017, The Curve is set to be completed this March 2017, according to Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC). The project, which combines SOM’s mastery of design and efficient, environment-friendly features, is located on 3rd Avenue corner 32nd Street.

Taut and textured curtain walls mark the Curve’s look, and the building will feature street-front retail shops, five levels of above-grade parking, and over 24,000 square meters of leasable space. SOM also incorporated sustainability technologies and passive energy-saving strategies in the Curve’s overall workings and design, thus earning it a LEED Gold Certification. These include low-iron insulated glazing units and low-emissivity materials, high-efficiency LED lighting, reduced water consumption, and rain harvesting.

NEW HOMEOWNERS, LOOK SOUTH. Property developer, Elanvital Enclaves Inc. (EVE)

is expanding. With the success of their 13 hectare flagship project Nostalji Enclave, EVE is opening up a suburban enclave for families set on building a home in the south. The newest offering of EVE for 2015 is Tradizo Enclave in Imus Cavite. Spanning a total of 8.5 hectares, the project has inventory worth approximately P1.3B, or around 500 units, at price ranges from 2.3M to 3.3M. Elanvital Enclaves Incorporated is part of a conglomerate with various business ventures which includes Asia United Bank, Republic Biscuit Corporation (REBISCO) Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalg, and Crystal Jade.

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. A

strong adhesion product ensures a reliable roof over your heads.

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

DON’T LET BAD MAINTENANCE RAIN ON YOUR PARADE Do battle against termites, “maps” with surefire home protection products

S

o you are the proud owner of your own home, or even building. Now it’s time to learn a few important things about property management. But before anything else, adopt the house-owner’s mantra: keeping a living space in good condition means good housekeeping and proper maintenance.

Most people are not aware that termites cause more damage to structures compared to all calamities combined.

The Philippines is a country where termite infestation is common everywhere. Termites are those nasty critters that feed on cellulose materials such as paper and wood.

“I-Solignum mo”

Solignum has been in the Philippine market for over 50 years. It has been proven in protecting against termites, wood borers and fungi. Solignum has become a household name; thus we hear people say, “I-Solignum mo” when faced with a termite problem.

To complement Solignum, it is likewise important to apply a soil termiticide such as Soilguard. Termites come from the soil, and so it is a must to create a “barrier” to prevent termites from entering your home. Termites that come in contact with soil treated with Soilguard are killed through contact, ingestion or inhalation of the active ingredient; thereby providing protection from the entry of termites.

Waterproofing as a lifesaver

Another element which we often neglect is the proper waterproofing of concrete firewalls, basements and toilets. If your house has poor waterproofing, “maps” will appear in your house’s concrete surfaces, indicating leaks. This ruins your investment as it can damage not only your appliances and furniture but also the structure itself. In some cases, homeowners suddenly find a pool in their basement, where there used to be none. Truth be told, some contractors deliberately try to use inferior waterproofing products just to save costs and thereby increase their profits.

Contractors have been using Super Thoroseal waterproofing for a long time.

A cement-based product , it behaves in the same manner as the concrete surface especially with regard to how it reacts to intense heat and rain. It’s also easy to apply: just mix it with water and it can be painted over concrete just like how you do it for ordinary paint.

If you have a concrete balcony, canopy or roof deck, you must use a flexible type of waterproofing because these areas are typically prone to shaking or

movement. For this, you should use Optimum Flex. What is good about Optimum Flex is that it ensures an error-free mix. Poor waterproofing usually happens because of wrong application and incorrect measurements of the product.

Optimum Flex is a flexible waterproofing membrane which is composed of two parts: a liquid component similar to glue which our kids use in school, and a powder component which is similar to cement. You mix the two parts together and you’re ready to apply it. There is no need for special equipment.

Roof leaks and home pests

For protection from roof leaks, we need to ensure that our roof is free from debris such as fallen leaves, stones and dirt. We also need to check cracks and holes. For this, there is Sureseal “Iwas Crack” elastomeric sealant which is designed to be elastic and has strong adhesion to surfaces like GI sheets and PVC pipes. Sureseal is also toluene-free, which means it has no addicting smell unlike other elastomeric sealants in the market.

Lastly, your house needs to be protected against home pests, especially if you have small children. There is

an aerosol multi-insect killer called Zap. Zap offers powerful knockdown without the irritating smell, providing protection from dengue-carrying mosquitoes. For your problem with rats, there’s a bait called Klerat which is proven to eliminate these horrific creatures in a single feed. For roaches and ants, there is Optigard Roach and Ant Bait.

Keep these products in mind to help preserve, and maintain your homes.

PROTECT THAT INVESTMENT. Creating a “barrier” to prevent termites from entering your home starts from construction, to your humble abode’s yearly maintenance routine.

FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or AAC, is a unique type of building material. AAC is produced using common materials such as lime, sand, cement and water, and a small amount of rising agent.

After mixing and molding, it is then autoclaved under heat and pressure to create its unique properties. Starken Philippines, the local subsidiary of Starken AAC Malaysia, recently introduced the AAC lightweight blocks in a press briefing. Sam Liuson, president of Starken Philippines (See photo) said these products are becoming the preferred building products for constructing residential, hotel, industrial and public building because of their natural composition and non-toxic properties, as well as energy saving qualities. “AAC products possess the durability characteristics similar to normal concrete or stone, yet with the workability better than wood,” he explained. Autoclaved lightweight concrete was invented in the mid-1920s by the Swedish architect and inventor Johan Axel Eriksson. It is a lightweight, precast building material that simultaneously provides structure, insulation, and fire and mold resistance.

LGUs

Estrada flaunts school projects

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

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By Sandy Araneta SAYING he values education “more than anything else,” Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has gifted public students in the city with new school buildings worth more than P2.5 billion last year.

For 2016, Manila under Estrada’s watch constructed and repaired 45 school buildings in various public elementary and secondary schools in the city. In 2015, the city also completed 44 school infrastructure projects, 32 of which have been completed, with a total project cost of P1.49 billion.

“While we save our youth from the clutches of illegal drugs and other illegal activities, we are equally committed in providing them quality education, and one way of doing that is giving them the best educational facilities we could offer,” Estrada said.

Thirteen of the 45 school building projects last year were new buildings worth P828 million. The rest were repair and rehabilitation works worth P1.72 billion, according to the Office of the City Engineer.

For the two-year period, the city government completed 87 school building projects with a total project costs of P4.038 billion.

Education is one of Estrada’s priority programs. He has allocated almost P2 billion to the city’s Special Educational Fund to finance additional school infrastructure and other related programs.

These include P40 million worth of textbooks and instructional materials; P375 million for 50 digital computer laboratories, 1,600 desktop computers, laptops, printers, projectors and other school equipment.

To raise the morale of public school teachers, Estrada also increased their monthly allowance from P2,000 to P3,000, and provided them with computer tablets to aid in their teaching.

Elementary schoolchildren also get free books, PE uniforms, and school supplies, and have benefitted from the city government’s feeding program.

STATESMAN’S BURIAL. Officials

and workers of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led

by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman (in black shirt) recite the ‘sunnah’ as they attend the burial rites of former Public Works and Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

Datumanong, who also represented the province in Congress, died Tuesday, Feb. 28, of cardiac arrest.

He was 81. Omar Mangorsi

Makati preps for big quake

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE city government of Makati is preparing a revised contingency plan with community leaders and residents following reports that four barangays in the city were identified as vulnerable sites in case a powerful earthquake hits Metro Manila.

City officials led by Mayor Abigail Binay are set to convene a residents’ assembly this month in each of the four barangays—Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo and Rizal—transected by the West Valley Fault as part of Makati’s preparations for a magnitude 7.2-earthquake forecast by seismologists to happen in the National Capital Region any time.

Binay said the project aims to raise awareness of residents and other stakeholders on the actual

track of the Fault, based on the Walk-the-Fault activity jointly conducted by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the city government.

Experts from Phivolcs will be invited to attend the assemblies, she said.

In 2014, Phivolcs director Renato Solidum cited Makati as “the most prepared city in Metro Manila against geological hazards, including an earthquake.”

“For residents and stakeholders

to better appreciate the significance of the markers, they need to be fully aware of the hazards they face in the event of a major earthquake. We will also apprise them of interventions being done and planned by the city government to mitigate damage to lives and properties, and facilitate recovery and rehabilitation,” Binay said.

The fault marker installation project is part of the Revised Makati Earthquake Contingency Plan based on the Model 8 scenario of the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study 2004.

Based on the MMEIRS results, the projected impact of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Makati is as follows: 21,205 dead, 84,822 injured and 1,260,000 affected persons. Meanwhile, 9,092 structures will be heavily damaged, 16,694 partially damaged, and 4,983 will be burned down.

The mayor called on con-

cerned barangay officials and residents to make time for the assembly, slated in Comembo on March 8 at 9 a.m. at the Comembo Covered Court. The rest are scheduled as follows: Rizal on March 15, Pembo on March 22, and East Rembo on March 29. The time and venue for the three barangays will be confirmed later.

Earthquake hazards faced by barangays transected by the fault line include ground shaking, ground rupture and liquefaction, as well as fire, its secondary hazard.

There are 152 identified areas for the markers and “mohons” (concrete landmarks) in the four barangays, to be distributed as follows: East Rembo (32 mohons and 25 markers); Comembo (three mohons and two markers); Pembo (34 mohons and 19 markers); and Rizal (20 mohons and 17 markers).

Under the Comprehensive Land

IN BRIEF

Navotas anti-drug program launched

Employee at Clark cited for honesty CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga—An employee of a moneychanger operating inside Clark International Airport showed he takes honesty very seriously by surrendering a wallet containing 5,500 euros (about P265,000) to airport authorities on Friday.

Rene Nambatac, who works at HG Money Changer inside the airport, returned the wallet owned by Robello Braminn. The wallet also contained the Indian national’s IDs, credit cards, passport and other important documents.

Braminn arrived at Clark from Singapore via Tiger Air and went to the money changer to get some Philippine currency, but left his wallet on the front desk manned by Nambatac. Nambatac surrendered the wallet to Hilarion Ritche Nacpil, the airport’s terminal manager, who turned it over to Braminn.

Alexander Cauguiran, president and CEO of CIAC, commended Nambatac for his honesty. Romeo Dizon

2 grenade blasts rock Catbalogan CATBALOGAN CITY—Two grenade blasts rocked this city early Friday.

The first blast occurred at 1:20 a.m. outside the house gate of Brgy. Canlapwas Chairman Elpa de Jesus.

Another grenade exploded inside the compound of Moore Pacle’s house in Brgy. Silanga, a few moments later.

Two children were reportedly wounded due to grenade shrapnel in Canlapwas. No one was reported injured in the Silanga blast, but it damaged Pacle’s residence.

De Jesus told newsmen present he was not aware of any motives behind the blast, neither did he get a warning or threat during the past days. Police are still investigating the incident. Mel Caspe

Cavite Kids confab held at Gen. Trias GENERAL TRIAS CITY—The provincial government of Cavite thru the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children recently held the Caviteño Kids Congress with the theme “Isulong: Kalidad na Edukasyon Para Sa Lahat ng Bata” at the General Trias Convention and Cultural Center.

The highlight of the celebration was the State of the Children Address delivered by Engineer Enrico Alvarez, Provincial Administrator for Internal Affairs, on behalf of Cavite Gov. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, stating the accomplishments, programs and services of Cavite for the children through the PCPC. Gracing the event were Alvin Mojica, Consultant of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office; Felifa G Servanez, PSWDO and PCPC Secretariat Head; Rowena Calabero from the Regional Juvenile Welfare Council; Precy T. Ramos, Social Welfare Officer III of PSWDO; and Ricky Bunao, Sectoral Unit Head, DSWD Field Office IV-A. Benjamin Chavez

Use Plan 2013-2023 and its corresponding Zoning Ordinance, the 10-meter buffer zone of the West Valley Fault (five meters on both sides) is delineated as ‘open space’ with corresponding development strategies.

The Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Makati DRRM Council, chaired by Binay, will lead in building resilient and sustainable communities through innovative interventions aimed to prevent, mitigate, prepare, respond and immediately recover from the different risks that the city faces.

The city has allocated P625 million for its Local DRRM Fund budget this year, which includes P137.8 million for its programs and operating costs and P299.6 million for its capital expenditures. Thirty percent of the total fund is allocated to Quick Response Fund, P187.5 million.

THANKFUL FISTS. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander F. Balutan (front row, fifth from left) and recipients of 18 new ambulance units from PCSO—for various municipalities and hospitals in Abra, Benguet, Apayao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Laguna, Quezon Province and Bukidnon—flash their clenched fists as a way of thanking President Rodrigo Duterte for the vehicles at a ceremony Friday at the agency’s head office in Mandaluyong City.

Ceza gives back on 22nd year

By Brenda Jocson SANTA ANA, Cagayan—A series of humanitarian activities filled this year’s 22nd founding anniversary celebration of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, such as bloodletting and medical and dental missions at the Ceza complex here.

A government-owned and controlled corporation, Ceza was created in 1995 under Republic Act 7922 to operate the 54,118-hectare Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Free Port of urban, suburban and agro-industrial lands for prime development.

CSEZFP covers the entire town of Santa Ana in Cagayan province, as well as the islands of Fuga, Barit and Mabbag in the town of Aparri, which is also rising as a major transshipment hub and a tourism and an ecotourism haven in northeastern Philippines.

Joyce Marie Jayme-Calimag, Ceza public relations head, said the bloodletting activity is in partnership with Cagayan Valley’s Philippine National Red Cross, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Santa Ana police office and blood donors and volunteers from Ceza locators, the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, the town’s barangay units, and community members.

They also distributed medicines and gifts to children and senior citizens, Calimag said.

Jose Marie B. Ponce, Ceza Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, said they made the celebration meaningful by spearheading humanitarian activities.

“Ceza intends to make the annual occasion not only about remembering the past, celebrating its birth, but more important about shaping the future, that every individual may benefit and may contribute more for the pro-

gress of Santa Ana and the Cagayan Valley region,” Ponce said.

He said community programs for this year’s founding anniversary celebration also included the distribution of various construction materials such as nails and GI sheets to various towns in Cagayan that were hit by Typhoon “Lawin.”

“We have responded and started a community-outreach program that seeks to assist the victims of the typhoon in Cagayan,” Ponce said.

He said Ceza led follow-up relief operations around the province and donated relief items to the local government units.

“Through the sponsorship of First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corp., we have distributed GI sheets and nails in the towns, such as Tuao, Amulung, Alcala, Enrile, Baggao, Aparri, Santa Teresita and Gonzaga as part of our anniversary celebration,” Ponce said.

THE local government of Navotas recently launched the Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga or MASAMASID, a community-based program that aims to curb illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality in barangays.

Ninety-eight representatives from the city’s 14 barangays vowed to be proactive in helping keep Navotas free and safe from illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality.

“We want to empower our citizens so they may serve as active partners in our efforts to address issues and challenges that our city faces,” Mayor John Rey Tiangco said.

“Navoteños share the responsibility of ensuring peace and order in our city. We want them to have active involvement in the city government’s projects and programs, especially in our anti-drug campaign,” he added.

During the launch, Tiangco also led the signing of the Pledge of Commitment to support the MASA-MASID and participate in its efforts to promote a drug- and crimefree city.

“With the organization of MASA-MASID, we will be able to strengthen our fight against criminality and ensure good governance,” the mayor said. Jun David

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

II. ABSTRACT OF THE PSA AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION 16. The following are the salient features of the PSA: 16.1 Term and Effectivity. This Agreement shall take effect on the date of signing (“Execution Date”) and shall remain in force and effect until 12:00 MN of December 25, 2018 (“Contract Term”), subject to extension of the Contract Term as may be agreed upon by the Parties. In the event that BUYER intends to extend the Agreement, it shall notify SELLER no later than June 25, 2018. SELLER shall supply BUYER beginning 12:00 AM of 26 December 2016 or the date of receipt of ERC final approval (“Supply Effective Date”).

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT (PSA) BETWEEN BILIRAN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (BILECO) AND SAN MIGUEL ENERGY CORPORATION (SMEC), WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

16.2 Security Deposit. BUYER shall provide a Security Deposit to SELLER equivalent to one hundred percent (100%) of the estimated average monthly power bill during the first Contract Year and shall be updated annually based on Contracted Capacity and Associated Energy of the BUYER subject to adjustments as may be necessary. Each update shall be executed at least one (1) week prior to the beginning of the ensuing Contract Year provided that all documents required from SELLER to enable BUYER to establish the Security Deposit shall be made available at least three (3) months prior to the beginning of the ensuing Contract Year. The updated Security Deposit shall be similarly calculated based on the next twelve (12) months of the ensuing Contract Year.

ERC CASE NO. 2016 -211 RC BILIRAN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (BILECO) AND SAN MIGUEL ENERGY CORPORATION (SMEC), Applicants. x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Additional Security. BUYER also offers a second fund in favor of SELLER and established by RENAGMEC Power Corporation. This will serve as an additional security for the amounts payable by BUYER to SELLER. If the Security Deposit of BUYER is insufficient for the amount payable

by BUYER to SELLER, SELLER shall draw the balance from the RENAGMEC Security Fund subject to guidelines to be agreed upon by the Parties.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 29 December 2016, Biliran Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BILECO) and San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC) filed an Application seeking the Commission’s approval of the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) entered into by both parties on 27 April 2016.

BILECO and SMEC alleged the following in their Application:

16.3 Contracted Capacity. Beginning Supply Effective Date, SELLER shall make available to BUYER, and BUYER shall take and accept the Contracted Capacity specified in Annex I at the Contract Price specified in Annex II. The quantities specified in Annex I shall not be changed by either Party except in cases provided for in this Agreement. The Contracted Capacity shall be sourced from the Facility or from other electricity generators, including the WESM, provided that, if the Contracted Capacity is sourced from other electricity generators, any difference between the Line Rental incurred if sourced from other generating facilities and Line Rental incurred if sourced from the Facility, shall be for the account of the SELLER.

Applicants, BILIRAN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (BILECO) and SAN MIGUEL ENERGY CORPORATION (SMEC), by and through the undersigned counsels, unto this Honorable Commission, most respectfully aver and state: That1.

2.

3.

Applicant BILECO is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at Caraycaray, Naval, Biliran. It is authorized to distribute and provide electricity services to its member-consumers in the Naval, Almeria, Biliran, Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran, Cabucgayan, actually the whole Province of Biliran, except Maripipi (collectively, the “Franchise Area”). It has been authorized to file the instant Application as per Board Resolution, a copy of which is attached as Annex “A”;

BUYER’s Contracted Capacity shall be as follows:

Applicant SMEC is a domestic corporation organized and existing under the Philippine Laws, with office address at the 2nd Floor, 808 Building, Meralco Avenue corner Gen. Lim Street, Barangay San Antonio, Pasig City.

It is the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Administrator of the 1,000 Net Contracted Capacity of the Sual Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant located in Barangay Pangascasan, Sual, Pangasinan. It has been authorized to file the instant Application as per Board Resolution, a copy of which is attached as Annex “B”;

Board of Investments (BOI) Certificate. On 26 January 2011, the Power Plant Project was registered with the BOI which issued Certificate of Registration No. 2011-024;

5.

Certificate of Compliance (COC). On 11 April 2014, the Honorable Commission issued a COC registered under the name of Team Sual for its 1,294 MW Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant;

6.

The following pertinent documents evidencing the registration of BILECO and SMEC are appended hereto, as follows:

8.

Exchange of Contracted Capacities among Region 8 ECs. In order to maximize capacity utilization, Region 8 ECs may exchange quantities of their Contracted Capacities in accordance with the Nomination Protocol.

Upon notice by BUYER, SELLER shall deliver to other Region 8 ECs the Contracted Capacity or a portion thereof not utilized by BUYER; provided that BUYER shall still be responsible for the settlement and payment of the Contracted Capacities.

16.4 Replacement Power During Outages. The SELLER shall guarantee supply and provide BUYER with Replacement Power sourced from other generating facilities or third parties, including the WESM, during Scheduled Outage and Forced Outage of the Plant or Facility.

Documents/Information BILECO’s Articles of Incorporation List of BILECO’s Board Members BILECO’s By-laws BILECO’s Certificate of Registration BILECO’s Certificate of Franchise SMEC’s Articles of Incorporation SMEC’s Certificate of Registration issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) H-1 SMEC’s information related to the ultimate parent company, its subsidiaries and all its affiliates I SMEC’s Latest General Information Sheet (GIS) J SMEC’s Certificate of Registration with the BOI K ECC issued by the DENR for the the Sual Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant Applicants may be served with orders, notices and other legal processes of this Honorable Commission through the address of the undersigned counsel;

The BUYER shall pay the SELLER a Replacement Power Charge for the total energy consumed that is associated with the Forced Outage of the Plant in every Billing Period as specified in Annex II; provided that the total number of cumulative hours of Forced Outage does not exceed seven hundred twenty (720) Equivalent Hours in a Contract Year.

If the cumulative number of Equivalent Hours of Forced Outage of the Plant in a Contract Year exceeds seven hundred twenty (720) Equivalent Hours, the Replacement Power Charge for the energy associated with Forced Outage in excess of seven hundred twenty (720) Equivalent Hours shall be zero.

16.5 Adjustments in Contracted Capacity. BUYER may apply in writing for an increase in the Contracted Capacity and SELLER may approve such an increase in writing, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Any approved increase shall be subject to the availability of capacity and the technical constraints of the Plant, the transmission lines, substations and other facilities, at the same Contract Price as provided for in this Agreement and under similar terms and conditions that the Parties may agree upon.

By and pursuant to Sections 23, 25, 43 (u), and 45 (b) of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA Law), its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and other pertinent rules and regulations, the instant Application for the approval of the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) executed by and between Applicants BILECO and SMEC on 27 April 2016 is herein respectfully filed.

BUYER shall be allowed a reduction in its Contracted Capacity only upon prior written consent of SELLER, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The BUYER shall apply in writing to the SELLER for a reduction of the Contracted Capacity, and SELLER shall, within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the BUYER’s application, inform the BUYER of its decision. Upon approval of the request for reduction in Contracted Capacity, the other Region 8 ECs may opt to assume the quantity of reduction in BUYER’s Contracted Capacity, and shall be responsible for said BUYER’s obligations to SELLER. Any Contracted Capacity not assumed by the other Region 8 ECs shall be sold to the WESM. SELLER shall sell the reduction in Contracted Capacity and Associated Energy to the WESM and any positive difference between the Total Monthly Charge (if such energy was sold to BUYER) and the sales from WESM associated with such energy, shall be for the account of the BUYER.

The aggregated uncontracted baseload demand of Region 8 from the years 2015 to 2018 is continually increasing as shown in the table below: Contract Year 2015 2016 2017 2018

Contract Duration Aggregated Baseload Dec. 26, 2014 - Dec. 25, 2015 65 MW Dec. 26, 2015 - Dec. 25, 2016 78 MW Dec. 26, 2016 - Dec. 25, 2017 83 MW Dec. 26, 2017 - Dec. 25, 2018 93 MW

10. Meanwhile, the contracts of most of the Electric Cooperatives (ECs) in Region 8 with the National Power Corporation-Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (NPC-PSALM) expired on 25 December 2014; 11. On 07 November 2013, the eleven (11) electric cooperatives of Region 8 composed of Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DORELCO), Leyte II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO II), Leyte III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO III), Leyte IV Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO IV), Leyte V Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO V), Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOLECO), Biliran Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BILECO), Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORSAMELCO), Samar I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SAMELCO I), Samar II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SAMELCO II), and Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ESAMELCO) (collectively, the “Region 8 ECs”), participated in the bidding for PSALM’s 200 strips of energy from the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant. Unfortunately, they lost in said bidding;

BUYER shall be allowed to reduce its Contracted Capacity on account of the implementation of Retail Competition and Open Access (“RCOA”), (a) any of its large end-users with a monthly peak demand of 750 kW or higher ceases to engage in business or becomes a Contestable Customer under RCOA or (b) any of its large end-users cease to engage in business or become Contestable Customers due to further reduction of the threshold for contestability under RCOA; provided that, in case of (a) or (b) hereof, there is a proportionate reduction of bilateral contract quantities among all of BUYER’s power suppliers.

16.6 Capacity Fees and Energy Fees. Beginning Supply Effective Date and subject to the terms and conditions of this PSA, BUYER shall pay the Capacity Fees and Energy Fees as provided for in Annex II.

12. Even more unfortunate, typhoon Yolanda hit the region on 08 November 2013 stalling any efforts to contract additional power supply and shifting the focus instead on the massive restoration efforts in the area; 13. Thus, the Region 8 ECs decided to bid out their power supply requirements for the period 2015 - 2018. Sometime in the middle of 2014, the Region 8 ECs conducted a Joint Power Supply Planning. Later, the Region 8 ECs decided, through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), to conduct a joint procurement of their short-term aggregated baseload requirement, specifically, their power supply requirements beginning 26 December 2015 until 25 December 2018.

From September 2014 to December 2014, the competitive bidding for the region’s power requirements was held; 14. For such purpose, a Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) was created to conduct the Region 8 Joint Competitive Power Supply Procurement (“R8 JCPSP”) as follows: 14.1 The Region 8 ECs prepared their respective least-cost power supply plans and their aggregated baseload demands for competitive bidding; 14.2 The competitive tender was published and announced in the coverage areas of the Region 8 ECs. In addition, prospective bidders (Generation Companies, IPP Administrators and Wholesale Aggregators whose names are listed on the Department of Energy (DOE) website) were invited; 14.3 The capacity offered by the winning bidder/s was allocated among the eleven (11) Region 8 ECs in proportion to their declared demands.

A bidder was allowed to offer to supply capacity that is less than or equal to the aggregated baseload requirement in any or all of the contract years in increments of 1 MW. In the event that some winning bidders offered less than 11 MW, the loads were optimally allocated in such a way that the blended price of generation resulting from the R8 JCPSP transaction is almost the same for all ECs. In the event multiple bidders who collectively satisfy the total baseload demand of R8 ECs are declared winners for any contract year, all winning bidders entered into individual PSAs with each of the 11 ECs; 14.4 The bidders who signified their intention to join by buying the bid documents, attended pre-bid conferences where they gave their comments and sought clarification on the bidding requirements and process. The BAC issued bid bulletins and the Final Instruction to Bidders; 14.5 The process followed the 2-envelope system - the legal requirements and proof of financial and technical capability in the first, and the commercial offer in the second. Bids were evaluated based on an Evaluation Framework and Evaluation Methodology released to the Bidders; 14.6 After evaluating the bids of each supplier, on 14 November 2014, the BAC declared Applicant SMEC as a winning bidder for a total of 83MW and 93MW for Contract Years 2017 and 2018; 14.7 On 25 April 2016, SMEC and the Region 8 ECs commenced the final negotiations for the other commercial and technical terms and conditions of the PSA; 15. Accordingly, on 27 April 2016, BILECO and SMEC executed the subject PSA, providing the terms and conditions for the supply of 2MW baseload power to BILECO for 2017 and the same amount of baseload power for 2018, which will assure the adequate and reliable supply of power to BILECO’s franchise area. A copy of the PSA is attached as Annex “L”.

In relation thereof, any adjustment in the contracted capacity will be governed by the provisions of Article 7 (Adjustments in Contracted Capacity) of the PSA”;

Dec. 26, 2016- Dec. 25, 2017 Dec. 26, 2017- Dec. 25, 2018

Unutilized Capacity. The unutilized capacity of BUYER may be made available for utilization by other Region 8 ECs or sold to the WESM in accordance with the Nomination Protocol.

I. STATEMENT OF FACTS 9.

CY 2017 CY2018

Contracted Capacity (kW) 2,000 2,000

Capacity Utilization Factor. BUYER shall purchase the Contracted Capacity and pay for the Contracted Capacity from seventy percent (70%) to one hundred percent (100%) Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF), computed per Billing Period, in accordance with Annex II.

Annex “C” C-1 “D” “E” “F” G H

7.

Duration

BUYER shall maintain a minimum hourly nomination of at least fifty percent (50%) of the Contracted Capacity for the duration of the Agreement.

Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). On 8 November 1994, the Department of Environment and Resources (DENR) issued an ECC with Reference No. 9406-003-206 to Pangasinan Electric Corporation (PEC) for the 1,200 MW Sual Coal-fired Power Project located at Sitios Bangayao, Buyog and Pao of Barangay Pangascasan, Sual, Pangasinan covering 280 hectares land area;

4.

Contract Year

The Total Monthly Charge, before taxes, for a Billing Period shall be computed according to the following: Total Monthly Charge = Capacity Charge + Energy Charge +- Replacement Power Charge 1. Capacity Charge Capacity Charge = max{(QACTUAL - QFO), Q@70%CUF} = Capacity FeeCUF QFO = EHFO * CC CUF = max {70%

QACTUAL – QFO } Q@70%CUF = 0.7 * CC * [HT – EHFO – EHFM ) CC[HT–EHFO–EHFM]

Capacity Fee = (LCRCUF + LFOMCUF * Capacity FeeCUF =

USCPIn-1 PHCPIn-1 + FCRCUF * FOREXn-1* ) PHCPIo USCPIo

Capacity Fee100% LRCCUF = CUF

LRC100% CUF

FCR100% LFOM100% FCRCUF = CUF CUF Note: Qfo - o for energy associated with Forced Outage in excess of 720 Equivalent Hours.

LFOMCUF =

2.

Energy Charge

Energy Charge = (QACTUAL - QFO ) * Energy Fee FPIn-1 USCPIn-1 PHCPIn-1 + FFC * FOREXn-1 * + FVOM * FOREXn-1 * PHCPI0 FPI0 USCPI0 Note: QFO = 0 for energy associated with Forced Outage in excess of 720 Equivalent Hours.

Energy Fee = LVOM *

3.

HT

Total number of hours in the Billing Period.

EHFO

The sum of the duration, in Equivalent Hours, of Forced Outages in the Billing Period.

EHFM

The sum of the duration, in Equivalent Hours, of outages or reduced delivery of energy due to Force Majeure in the Billing Period.

LCRCUF

Local component of Capital Recovery Fee at CUF from 70% up to 100%, in PHP/kWh.

LFOMCUF

Local component of Fixed O&M Fee at CUF from 70% up to 100% in PHP/kWh.

FCRCUF

Foreign component of Capital Recovery Fee at CUF from 70% up to 100%, in USD/kWh.

PHCPIn-1

Philippine Consumer Price Index of the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs, for All Income Households – All Items (2006=100), as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) (or its substitute or replacement agency, as the case may be) (http://www.census.gov.ph/business/price-indices/ cpi-index).

PHCPI0

Base Philippine Consumer Price Index for the month of September 2014 for All Income Households – All Items (2006=100), as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) (or its substitute or replacement agency, as the case may be). PHCPI0 = 140.90.

PHCPIFO

USCPIn-1

US Consumer Price Index, All Items, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (2010=100) for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs. (http:// www.bls.gov/cpi/#tables)

USCPI0

US Consumer Price Index, All Items, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (2010=100) for the month of September 2014. USCPI0 = 109.20

FOREXn-1

Monthly Average of daily Philippine Peso (PHP) vs. US Dollar (USD) Reference Foreign Exchange Rate as published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs. (http://www.bsp.gov.ph/statistics/ keystat/day99.htm)

LVOM

Local component of Variable O&M in PHP/kWh.

FFC

Foreign Fuel Cost component of Energy Fee in USD/ kWh.

FVOM

Foreign component of Variable O&M in USD/kWh.

FPIn-1

GlobalCoal Newcastle index for the calendar month within which the start of the current Billing Period occurs. (https:// www.globalcoal.com/ClientZone/coalMarketReport/)

FPI0

Base Fuel Price Index posted (GlobalCoal Newcastle Index) for the month of September 2014. FPI0 = USD66.37/MT.

4. Schedule of Capacity Fees and Energy Fees for CY 2017

C.U.F. 100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% Energy Fee

PHCPIn-1 PHCPIFO Note: QFO = 0 and therefore Replacement Power Charge = 0, for energy associated with Forced Outage in excess of 720 Equivalent Hours.

Where, Total Monthly Charge

Amount to be paid by BUYER to SELLER in a Billing Period, in PHP, to which VAT and other applicable taxes will be applied.

Capacity Charge

Monthly payment for capacity and fixed costs, in PHP.

Energy Charge

Monthly payment for fuel and variable costs, in PHP.

Monthly payment for Replacement Power procured by Replacement Power SELLER for the BUYER during Plant Forced Outages, Charge in PHP. RPBASE

Replacement Power Fee (Base = March 2016) at PhP5.5000/kWh.

QACTUAL

Total actual energy delivered by SELLER to the BUYER, in kWh

Q@70%CUF

Energy supplied by SELLER to BUYER if dispatched at 70% CUF, in kWh

QFO

Total Energy supplied by SELLER to the BUYER during Plant Forced Outage for the Billing Period, in kWh

CUF

Capacity Utilization Factor, in percent (%).

CC

Contracted Capacity, in kW.

Capacity Fee Price Components for CY 2017 Foreign Component Local Components (PHP/kWh) (USD/kWh) Fixed O&M Capital Recovery Capital Recovery (FOMCUF) (FCRCUF) (LCRCUF) 1.4605 0.1457 0.0151 1.4753 0.1472 0.0152 1.4903 0.1487 0.0154 1.5057 0.1502 0.0156 1.5214 0.1518 0.0157 1-5374 0.1534 0.0159 1-5537 0.1550 0.0161 1.5704 0.1567 0.0162 1.5875 0.1584 0.0164 1.6050 0.1601 0.0166 1.6228 0.1619 0.0168 1.6410 0.1637 0.0170 1.6597 0.1656 0.0172 1.6787 0.1675 0.0173 1.6983 0.1695 0.0175 1.7182 0.1714 0.0178 1.7387 0.1735 0.0180 1.7596 0.1756 0.0182 1.7811 0.1777 0.0184 1.8031 0.1799 0.0186 1.8256 0.1822 0.0189 1.8487 0.1845 0.0191 1.8724 0.1868 0.0194 1.8968 0.1893 0.0196 1.9217 0.1918 0.0199 1.9473 0.1943 0.0201 1.9737 0.1969 0.0204 2.0007 0.1996 0.0207 2.0285 0.2024 0.0210 2.0571 0.2053 0.0213 2.0864 0.2082 0.0216 Energy Fee Price Components for CY 2017 Local Component (PHP/kWh) Foreign Components (USD/kWh) Variable Variable O&M (LVOM) Fuel (FFC) O&M (FVOM) 0.0083

0.0382

0.0015

5. Schedule of Capacity Fees and Energy Fees for CY 2018

C.U.F. 100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70%

Replacement Power Charge

Replacement Power Charge = QFO * RPBASE *

Base Philippine Consumer Price Index for the month of March 2016 for All Income Households – All Items (2006=100), as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) (or its substitute or replacement agency, as the case may be). PHCPIFO = 142.60.

Energy Fee

Capacity Fee Price Components for CY 2018 Foreign Component Local Components (PHP/kWh) (USD/kWh) Fixed O&M Capital Recovery Capital Recovery (FOMCUF) (FCRCUF) (LCRCUF) 1.4869 0.1457 0.0154 1.5019 0.1472 0.0156 1.5173 0.1487 0.0158 1.5329 0.1502 0.0159 1.5489 0.1518 0.0161 1.5652 0.1534 0.0163 1.5818 0.1550 0.0164 1.5988 0.1567 0.0166 1.6162 0.1584 0.0168 1.6340 0.1601 0.0170 1.6521 0.1619 0.0172 1.6707 0.1637 0.0173 1.6897 0.1656 0.0175 1.7091 0.1675 0.0177 1.7290 0.1695 0.0180 1.7493 0.1714 0.0182 1.7701 0.1735 0.0184 1.7915 0.1756 0.0186 1.8133 0.1777 0.0188 1.8357 0.1799 0.0191 1.8586 0.1822 0.0193 1.8822 0.1845 0.0195 1.9063 0.1868 0.0198 1.9311 0.1893 0.0201 1-9565 0.1918 0.0203 1.9826 0.1943 0.0206 2.0093 0.1969 0.0209 2.0369 0.1996 0.0212 2.0652 0.2024 0.0214 2.0942 0.2053 0.0217 2.1242 0.2082 0.0221 Energy Fee Price Components for CY 2018 Local Component (PHP/kWh) Foreign Components (USD/kWh) Variable Variable O&M (LVOM) Fuel (FFC) O&M (FVOM) 0.0083 0.0381 0.0015

ADVANTAGE OF THE GENERATION RATE AND IMPACT ON BILECO’S RETAIL RATES 17. BILECO, together with the other Region 8 ECs, needs to address the insufficiency of its power supply due to the increasing demand within its franchise area and the expiration of its contract with NPC-PSALM; 18. Currently, BILECO receives a total of 5MW from its existing suppliers, out of its peak requirement of 6.67MW. With an annual average growth rate of 3.78%, BILECO forecasts that its peak demand from 26 December 2017 to 25 December 2018 will be 7.504MW; 19. The additional supply from SMEC will significantly augment the supply deficiency of BILECO and will decrease the adverse effects thereof by providing a stable and adequate source of electricity; 20. Among the alternative suppliers capable of providing additional energy to BILECO and the rest of the Region 8 ECs, SMEC’s rates proved to be more reasonable and competitive. While SMEC’s offer is primarily intended for its base load requirements, the Capacity Factor Pricing under the PSA provides flexibility in the DUs’ utilization of the Contracted Capacity; 21. BILECO simulated a rate impact analysis, the details of which are provided in Annex “M”, which ultimately resulted in a PhP0.6947/kWh decrease with the execution of the PSA with SMEC, to wit:

World 29.3 Complete newspaper issue where the Application was published, to be appended herein as Annex “BB-i”. and the relevant page thereof where the Application appears, as Annex “BB-2”;

Generation Mix with SMEC 2017 Power Forecasted 2017 Supplier Quantity (kWh)

Amount (Php)

Percent Share (%)

Resulting Capacity Factor (%)

2017 Average Rate ((P/ kWh)

GMCP

21,343,857.69

104,599,843.36

56.64%

81%

4.9007

SMEC

17,520,000.00

72,623,904.00

46.49%

100%

4.1452

WESM

(1,180,843.25)

(6,747,184.21)

-3.13%

TOTAL

37,683,014.44

170,476,563.14

100%

Weighted Average Rate (kWh) 4.5240

5.7193

Generation Mix without SMEC 2017 Power Forecasted 2017 Supplier Quantity (kWh)

Amount (Php)

Percent Share (%)

Resulting 2017 Average Weighted Capacity Factor Rate ((P/ Average Rate (96) kWh) (kWh)

GMCP

21,343,857.69

104,599,843.36

56.64%

81%

SMEC

0

0

0

0

WESM

16,399,156.75

87,527,098.31

43.36%

TOTAL

37,683,014.44

192,126,941.67

100%

4.9007 0

5.0985

5.3569 Generation Rate Impact -0.5745

Note/Assumptions: 1.

Analysis and simulations is based on Coop’s forecasted 2017 hourly load profile.

2.

SMEC price is based on the proposal to the bidding, assuming 100% Load Factor.

3.

GMCP rate is based on (i) Capacity Fee at Resulting Capacity Factor; (ii) November 14 coal and shipping price; (iii) February 2015-January 2016 average FOREX; (iv) PPD not included.

4.

WESM Price is based on 2015 prices of Ex-Ante and Ex-Post Price at Nodal Point.

22. In addition to the lower generation cost of the power supply from SMEC, BILECO is also entitled to a Prompt Payment Discount (PPD), if conditions are met, equivalent to three percent (3%) of the total of the Capacity and Energy Charges and a Collection Efficiency Discount, again if conditions are met, equivalent to: Collection Efficiency Levels

Discount, PhP/kWh

Below 65%

None

66% to 75%

0.05

76% to 85%

0.10

86% to 99%

0.15

96% and above

0.20

23. In compliance with Rule 20 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure relative to the submission of supporting documents and information for the approval of the PSA and the rate structure embodied therein, Applicants BILECO and SMEC attach the following documents to form integral parts hereof: Annex

Documents/Information

N and series

Details of the PSA: a. Executive Summary b. Sources of Funds/Financial Plans ■ Debt/Equity Ratio ■ Project Cost ■ Computation of Return on Investment (ROI)/Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) ■ Certification from the Bank/Lending Institution specifying the principal amortization, term and interest during the cooperation period of the loan agreement C. Purchased Power Rate ■ Breakdown of the base prices ■ Sample Computation of Power Rates with the supporting documents on the assumptions taken ■ Rate Impact Study/Simulation ■ Statement of impact on the overall rates of BILECO once the contract is approved ■ Basis/Rationale of indexation and level of indexation d. Cash Flow ■ Initial Costs ■ Breakdown of Operating and Maintenance expenses ■ Minimum Energy Off-take (MEOT)

O P, P-1 and P-2

Details of the Power Rate Calculations and Financial Model (Confidential) Contracts for the Supply, Construction and Supervision for the Power Plant (Confidential)

Q

Details of the Fuel Procurement Process (Confidential)

R

Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) between NGCP and BILECO, if applicable

IV. MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF ANNEXES “O”, “P”, and “U” 30. Under Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, a party to any proceeding before the Honorable Commission may request that certain information not be disclosed and be treated as confidential, by describing with particularity the information to be treated as confidential, specifying the ground for the claim of confidential treatment of the information and, if applicable, specifying the period during which the information must not be disclosed; 31. Applicant SMEC respectfully moves for the confidential treatment of Annexes “O” and “P”. “P-1” and “P-2”” hereof, consisting of SMEC’s Sources of Funds and Financial Plans with Cost Assumptions. These annexes, exclusively owned by Applicant SMEC, contain information which are considered part of its business and trade secrets. As such, SMEC has the sole proprietary interest and will be unduly prejudiced should they be disclosed to the public; 32. These annexes contain numbers, data, formula, methodology, and calculations involving valuable and sensitive commercial, financial information reflecting SMEC’s business operations and financial trade secrets. Therefore, SMEC’s confidential, proprietary, and private information included in the aforesaid annexes should be protected from public dissemination. Otherwise, such information can be illegally and unfairly utilized by business competitors who may use the same for their own private gain and to the irreparable prejudice of SMEC. Negotiations with prospective customers may also be affected; 33. Similarly, applicant BILECO humbly requests for the confidential treatment of Annexes “U and series” hereof, consisting of the MOA among Region 8 ECs, e-mails confirming participation of interested suppliers in the bidding, Information Memorandum, Final Instructions to Bidders, Bid Forms, Bid Evaluation Slips, Comparison of Bids, and Notice of Award, respectively.

These annexes show the individual offers of the bidders which participated in the R8 JCPSP. The Region 8 ECs, BILECO included, are bound by their undertaking to secure and keep in confidence the offers and the proposed terms of supply, so as not to prejudice or pre-empt any future CSPs in which these bidders will participate. Otherwise, BILECO and the rest of the Region 8 ECs may be held liable for damages for breach of confidentiality, and eventually, risk their good relations with the suppliers concerned; 34. Accordingly, it is respectfully submitted that Annex “O”. Annex “P” and series and Annexes “U” and series, must be accorded confidential treatment. As such, they are to be used exclusively by the Honorable Commission and for the sole purpose of evaluating this Application, thereby protecting these data from unnecessary public disclosure; 35. In accordance with Section l(b), Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Applicants BILECO and SMEC submit one (1) copy each of Annex “O”, Annex “P” and series and Annexes “U” and series in sealed envelopes, with the envelope and each page of the documents stamped with the word “Confidential”.

V. PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 36. All the foregoing allegations are re-pleaded by reference in support of herein Prayer for the issuance of Provisional Authority to implement the subject PSA; 37. BILECO and SMEC pray for the issuance of a Provisional Authority or interim relief prior to final decision pursuant to Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, to wit: “Section 3. Action on the Motion. - Motions for provisional authority or interim relief may be acted upon with or without hearing. The Commission shall act on the motion on the basis of the allegations of the application or petition and supporting documents and other evidences that applicant or petitioner has submitted and the comments or opposition filed by any interested person, if there be any.”

38. In recognition of the fact that a substantial amount of time is customarily needed to evaluate the documents submitted to support the approval of herein Application, Applicants BILECO and SMEC seek the kind consideration of the Honorable Commission to approve the instant Application, immediately, albeit, provisionally; 39. Owing to the short term of the contract, which is only for a period of two (2) years, a Provisional Authority is all the more imperative to allow the timely delivery of energy by SMEC to BILECO, which is set to start on 26 December 2016 at 12:00 A.M. in order to avoid their exposure to the WESM; 40. The additional power from SMEC is needed to curtail any power interruptions that may be experienced by BILECO’s member-consumers due to inadequate power supply in the Region; 41. To further support the Prayer for Provisional Authority, an affidavit emphasizing the necessity thereof is attached hereto as Annex “CC”, to form an integral part hereof; and 42. Finally, the following annexes are attached in compliance with the additional requirements of the Technical Working Group for write-ups on subject documents/information: Annex DD

24. Further, in compliance with Article VI, Sections 1 and 2 of the Honorable Commission’s Guidelines for the Recovery of Costs for the Generation Component of the Distribution Utilities’ (DU) Rates, copies of the foregoing are, likewise, attached to the Joint Application as annexes and made integral parts hereof: Annex

Documents/Information

S

Relevant technical and economic characteristics of the generation capacity, installed capacity, mode of operation, and dependable capacity

T

Costs analysis of the proposed pricing provisions of the PSA

U and series

Details of the Competitive Selection Process (CSP) undertaken by leading to the selection of SMEC as its supplier, including invitations to participate and submit proposals, Terms of Reference (TOR), proposals and/or tender offers received by R8 JCPSP, Joint Bids and Awards Committee (JBAC) Evaluation Report; R8 JCPSP’s Board Resolution confirming the said JBAC Evaluation Report, and the Notice of Award to SMEC (Confidential)

Documents/Information SMEC Shareholders Agreement

DD-1

Renewable Energy Service/Operating Contract from the Department of Energy

DD-2

Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Confirmation of Commerciality by an RE Developer and after due confirmation by the DOE

DD-3

Explanation on the non-applicability of potential cost of ancillary services

DD-4

Consistency/inconsistency of the Sual Coal Fired Power Station with the DOE’s PDP

DD-5

SMEC as an IPPA project

DD-6

Explanation on the non-applicability of the MEOT provision on the SMEC contract

DD-7

Status of the ECs' Transition Supply Contract with the NPC/ PSALM

DD-8

Non-applicability to electric cooperatives of document showing list of board of directors and board members related to the ultimate parent company, its subsidiaries and all its affiliates

DD-9

Write-up on SMEC's IPPA Agreement

V and series

Details of the interconnection facility of the Sual Coal Fired Thermal Power Plant

W and series

BILECO’s latest Distribution Development Plan (DDP)

X and series

BILECO’s Load Forecast Projections, Power Demand and Supply Scenario and Average Daily Load Curve

1.

Y

BILECO’s Demand Side Management (DSM) Program that could be implemented by EC if approved by the Honorable Commission

Pending hearing, ISSUE an Order provisionally approving the Joint Application and the PSC thereby authorizing BILECO and SMEC to immediately implement the rate structures therein;

2.

Z

SMEC’s latest Audited Financial Statements (AFS), Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Statement of Cash Flows and Operating Expenses for the Power Plant and General Administrative Expenses

Z-1

Certification from the engine manufacturer or SMEC of the net heat rate in liters per kWh

ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “O”, “P”, “P-1”, and “P-2”, and “U and series”, and all the information contained therein as confidential, directing their non-disclosure to persons other than the officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, continuously protecting the said information from public disclosure by maintaining the same separate and apart from the records of the case, and ensuring that these are not divulged to unauthorized persons, pursuant to Rule 4 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure; and

3.

After due notice and hearing, ISSUE a Decision approving the Joint Application and the PSC between BILECO and SMEC, and authorizing BILECO to charge and collect the fees therein from its member-consumers.

Z-2

Updated Certificate of Compliance from the Energy Regulatory Commission 25. Furthermore, applicants BILECO and SMEC are reserving their right to submit other documents, either in the course of the hearing or as may be required by this Honorable Commission.

26. The Joint Application is consistent and in accordance with Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9136, or EPIRA, declaring as a policy of the State, among others, “to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power;” and Section 23 thereof, that “To achieve economies of scale in utility operations, distribution utilities may, after due notice and public hearing, pursue structural and operational reforms such as but not limited to, joint actions between or among the distribution utilities, subject to the guidelines issued by the ERC (which) . . . shall result in improved efficiencies, reliability of service, reduction of costs and compliance to the performance standards prescribed in the IRR of this Act” and that all distribution utilities shall have the obligation to supply electricity in the least-cost manner to its captive market subject to the collection of retail rate duly approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission;” 27. The Joint Application is likewise consistent with DOE Department Circular No. DC2015-06-0008 which mandates all distribution utilities to undergo Competitive Selection Process (CSP) in securing Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) which will ensure security and certainty of electricity prices of electric power to end-users in the long term, as well as with ERC Resolution No. 13, series of 2015, which requires that “PSA shall be awarded to the winning Generation Company following a successful transparent and competitive selection process ... A CSP is successful if the DU receives at least two (2) qualified bids from entities with which the DU is not prohibited from entering into a contract for power supply in accordance with Rule 11, Section 5 (b) of the EPIRA IRR.” 28. The PSA with SMEC was made to ensure the continuous supply of power to EC and due to the former’s competitive pricing structure and other favorable terms of its contract, which will redound to the benefit of the latter and its end-consumers in terms of reliable and affordable power supply; III. COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 29. Applicants manifest compliance with the pre-filing requirements mandated under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the EPIRA and Rule 6 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, to be established by the following: 29.1 Certifications acknowledging receipt of the Application with annexes to be issued by the Legislative Bodies of Pasig City, Municipality of Naval, and the Province of Biliran, to be appended as Annexes “AA”, “AA-1” and “AA-2”, respectively; 29.2 Notarized Affidavit of Publication stating that the Application was published in a newspaper of general circulation within BILECO’s Franchise Area, to be appended herein as Annex “BB”; and

Prayer WHEREFORE, the foregoing premises considered, the Joint Applicants Biliran Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BILECO) and San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC) most respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:

Other reliefs just and equitable under the premises are, likewise, prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 15 March 2017 at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.), at BILECO’s principal office at Caraycaray, Naval, Biliran.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 15th day of February 2017 in Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO Standard – Feb. 25, 2017 & Mar. 4, 2017

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

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Malaysia releases N. Korean K

UALA LUMPUR―The only North Korean arrested over the assassination of Kim Jong Nam was released Friday, with frustrated Malaysian police saying they believed he was involved in the plot but lacked evidence to prove it.

Ri Jong-Chol is among eight North Koreans suspected of involvement in the dramatic killing of Kim, the half-brother of the reclusive nation’s leader, who was poisoned with a banned nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Malaysia’s attorney general has announced there was insufficient evidence to charge 47-year-old Ri and that he would be deported on Friday.

As he was led out of a police station outside the capital under tight security and handed over to immigration authorities, police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said he regretted the release.

“We believe that Ri Jong Chol played a part in Kim Chol’s murder but unfortunately we lack evidence to charge him,” he told AFP, using the name given in the passport carried by Kim JongNam. “We are frustrated because of a lack of evidence,” he said via text message from Saudi Arabia where he is on a religious pilgrimage.

However, he denied political or diplomatic pressure had been a factor in the release, saying it was purely an investigative issue.

A senior police official who asked not to be named told AFP that Ri had been handed over to immigration authorities in the administrative capital of Putrajaya.

“I do not know when he will be deported as they will need to sort out the travel documents,” he said.

The vehicle carrying Ri, who wore a bullet proof vest, was escorted by a six police-car convoy and motorcycle outriders.

Roads were sealed off as the motorcade left the police station where he has been held.

Ri’s release came two days after two women -- one Vietnamese and one Indonesian -- were charged with murdering Kim. Seven other North Koreans

are wanted in connection with the killing, including a diplomat and an airline employee who are believed to be in Malaysia.

Four others are thought to have fled to Pyongyang on the day of the murder.

Ri was arrested days after Kim suffered an agonizing death when he was attacked as he waited to board a flight to Macau.

CCTV footage shows two women approaching the heavyset 45-year-old and apparently smearing his face with a cloth.

Police say he suffered a seizure and died less than 20 minutes later. Swabs of the dead man’s face revealed traces of VX, a synthetic chemical so deadly that it is classed as a weapon of mass destruction.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, face the death penalty if found guilty. Both women say they thought they were merely taking part in a prank video.

South Korea has pointed the finger of blame at North Korea, citing what they say was a standing order from leader Kim Jong-Un to kill his exiled halfbrother who may have been seen as a potential rival.

North Korea, which has not acknowledged the dead man’s identity, has vehemently protested the investigation, saying Malaysia is in cahoots with its enemies.

In response, Malaysia has canceled a visa-free travel deal with North Korea -- a key conduit to the outside world -- and recalled its envoy to Pyongyang.

On Thursday a senior North Korean diplomat leading a delegation to Kuala Lumpur reiterated Pyongyang’s assertion that Kim had died of a heart attack, dismissing the use of a toxin, and urged Malaysia to release his body.

Police chief Khalid quashed the claims.AFP

Baby boom in Ukraine follows shelling stress AVDIIVKA, Ukraine―Olena Gorbatova gave birth to her third child in war-torn eastern Ukraine to the sounds of gunfire and exploding shells in the Kiev-held flash point town of Avdiivka.

The 40-year-old Gorbatova calmed herself by thinking the attacks were just a celebration of the baby girl she named Myroslava -which in Russian and Ukrainian means “glory to peace”.

The wartime birth was not unusual. The town in which dozens were killed in early February has seen a mini baby boom that doctors attribute to the fact that people want to couple in times of stress and a change in women’s hormonal behavior.

“In recent years, we have managed to deliver babies from older families who are now in their 40s,” gynecologist Svitlana Khomchenko told AFP in the dilapidated and partially abandoned town of less then 20,000 people.

“They had been trying without success for many years. And now families who were considered sterile have children,” said Khomchenko.

“It turns out that stress is a factor.”

Gorbatova’s 38-year-old husband Sergiy had to make it past a series of road blocks to reach the maternity ward where his wife was resting.

A part of it has been turned into a military hospital. Women about to give birth lie side by

side with the wounded from the 34-month revolt in the proRussian region that has killed more than 10,000 people and left nearly 25,000 others injured.

Sergiy laughed off local jokes that the rising birth rate is down to the large number of Ukrainian soldiers defending the town.

He admitted that many people tried to convince him not to bring more children into the Ukraine’s unsafe world.

“But we still decided to do it,” he said.

The fog of war means that no real scientific study can explain why couples have more sex and women appear to be more fertile when disaster strikes.

Gynaecologist Khomchenko simply cites the statistics she has.

The year the war broke out in 2014 there were 45 births in Avdiivka compared with 110 babies born in 2016 -- more than double the figure despite people fleeing the region for more peaceful parts of the exSoviet state Khomchenko recalls scenes of horror as women were hidden in basements to shield them from exploding shells that blasted out windows and mortar rounds that landed in the hospital’s garden.

The city’s heating system is periodically not working and the doctor says she has had to take many deliveries by candlelight.

A power generator has been recently installed and the windows replaced. AFP

IN BRIEF Tom Hanks gives another espresso maker

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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WSHINGTON-US actor Tom Hanks gave White House journalists a new espresso machine Thursday, calling their caffeine-addled plight to cover the news a fight for “truth, justice, and the American way.”

The actor’s gift comes amid President Donald Trump’s feud with the US media, which he frequently blasts with insults and accuses of bias.

Hanks has previously brought the White House press corps espresso machines― once under George W. Bush when the actor learned the journalists had no such apparatus and again in 2010 under Barack Obama when he learned the first had worn out.

But this time, he left the press corps with a special note of encouragement including an illustration at the top of American troops soldiering on.

“To the White House Press Corps,” the note said. “Keep up the good fight for truth, justice, and the American way. Especially for the truth part.”

Since his campaign days, Trump has repeatedly slammed the media, calling it “dishonest” and accusing major news outlets of fabricating sources and stories, while branding journalists “the enemy of the people.”

Trump announced Saturday he will skip this year’s annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner, a longstanding tradition that began in 1921 in which journalists invite the US president for a lighthearted roast. AFP

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

World PREMIERE. Actress Allison Holker attends Walt Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ premiere at El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Grandma fights to return to UK

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INGAPORE―Twenty-seven years of marriage, two British sons and a granddaughter could not protect Singaporean Irene Clennell from deportation, but now the feisty grandma is fighting to get back to her family.

Clennell, 52, was deported to Singapore Sunday, despite being the primary caregiver for her sickly British husband John, who she said has sunk

into a mire of depression since she left.

“He was crying,” she told AFP in an interview at her sister’s cramped suburban home in the

Southeast Asian city state, where she is sleeping on the sofa as she tries to find a legal way back to her family in Britain.

John had femoral artery bypass in his leg last year and suffered a subsequent hernia. Since then, she said, he has struggled to walk far and needed help dressing himself.

“Before, it was different because he was fit and well -- he was able to look after himself. But now he can’t because of his condition,” she said, adding that she had been his sole caregiver at their County Dur-

ham home.

Clennell has been holed-up at her sister’s Singapore flat, talking to the media and trying to coordinate her legal fight to be allowed back into Britain since she was deported February 26.

Her British sister-in-law has hired an immigration lawyer and set up a crowd-funding campaign to cover her legal fees, which had raised more than $53,000 ($65,000)

by Friday.

Her husband is so desperate for them to be reunited he has written to a French minister asking whether

they could live in France as a family, said Clennell, who arrived in Singapore with hardly any money or possessions after a period in UK immigration detention.

Clennell first arrived in Britain in 1988 and worked as a receptionist at a London hotel where she met her husband, a construction worker. She was subsequently granted indefinite leave to remain in the country.

But she lost this right after spending long periods of time in Singapore, initially to have help from her family raising her young

children, and then to care for her elderly parents before their deaths.

Clennell said she now regrets leaving for so long as she didn’t realize it would create so many problems.

“I think that’s the mistake,” she said, adding it would be difficult for her husband to now move to Singapore due to his medical conditions, which require expensive care.

Her deportation has forced Clennell to again part from her two sons and her two-year-old granddaughter in Britain. AFP

Protest over boy’s shooting

Bali ready for Saudi king’s visit

BANGKOK―More than 1,000 people marched in Thailand’s insurgency-torn south on Friday to condemn the killing of a Buddhist family, including an eightyear-old boy, as a sudden spike in violence undercuts progress in peace talks.

The under-reported rebellion waged by Malay Muslim insurgents against the Buddhistmajority Thai state has killed more than 6,800 people, mostly civilians, since it erupted 13 years ago.

That toll rose Thursday after suspected militants ambushed the car of a deputy village headman, shooting him dead along with his eight-year-old son, wife and sister-in-law.

The family were driving to school on a remote road in the Ruso district of Narathiwat province when the gunmen attacked.

The ambush provoked outrage from religious leaders and civil society groups from both the Muslim and Buddhist communities, who came together for Friday’s march through Ruso.

Dozens of local school children also joined the demonstration, carrying a banner that said “stop the shooting, stop the killing”.

“The aim of the rally is to denounce the killing of innocent people,” Colonel Ruangsak Buadaeng, a local police commander, told AFP. Thursday also saw a 44-yearold Muslim leader killed in a drive-by shooting and three plainclothes soldiers gunned down in front of stunned shoppers at a night market in Pattani province. AFP

DENPASAR―Luxury hotels have been booked out and security forces deployed across Bali as the resort island geared up Friday for the arrival of Saudi King Salman on the latest leg of his extravagant Indonesian tour.

Hundreds of top-end cars and SUVs are ready to transport the king, who arrives Saturday, and his vast entourage, while 396 tons of equipment have been flown in to the popular holiday island for the visit.

Salman is leading a 1,000-strong delegation, including princes and ministers, on the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch to the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country in almost half a century.

He arrived in Jakarta Wednesday for a state visit to an elaborate welcome. After disembarking from his plane on a escalator, he was whisked in a convoy past cheering crowds and greeted at a presidential palace by a 21-gun salute and marching band.

He will spend a week on Bali, a Hindu-majority island famed for its palm-fringed beaches. Police said five luxury hotels have been booked around the upmarket Nusa Dua resort area for the monarch and his party.

Local media reported that among the king’s baggage were his own luxury sofa and an 80inch television to ensure he feels at home in his hotel.

About 2,500 police and military personnel, including snipers and bomb disposal experts, are being deployed around the island. The king’s party will use 360 vehicles, including Mercedes, SUVs and buses, during the visit, according to local tourism official I Ketut Ardana. AFP

LAUNCHING. This is a general view of the atmosphere at the Evian Brand Ambassador & 750 ml Sports Bottle Launch in California. AFP

Art becomes a refuge from France’s terror attacks PARIS―Terrorist attacks in France over the past two years have provided grim inspiration for the country’s artists -- and for some directly affected by the carnage, creating is helping to heal.

Cartoonist Catherine Meurisse narrowly avoided death because she was late for a meeting when jihadists attacked the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine where she worked, on January 7, 2015. Twelve people were gunned down that day.

Meurisse, now 37, battled depression after what turned out to be the first of three major jihadist attacks in France in little over a year and a half.

She has since published a work

entitled “Lightness” about her recovery, seeking to help others deal with their experience of terror.

She worked through her own experiences at the Villa Medicis in Rome, a prestigious art institution where she was struck by statues in the garden of Niobe, a Greek heroine whose children were slaughtered by the gods.

“The art helped me meditate on the violence and myself,” she told cultural magazine Telerama.

“I had a sense of approaching death, the bodies of my friends, gently and without fear.”

After the Islamic State attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead in November 2015, prize-winning Franco-Moroccan author Leila

Slimani was among writers who poured her grief and anger out onto the page as she railed against extremism.

“It is in Paris that I had access to art, to music, to beauty,” she wrote.

“Your fountains of milk and honey are worth less than the Seine.”

On the streets, graffiti artists daubed the defiant motto of Paris, “Fluctuat nec mergitur” (She is tossed by the waves, but does not sink) on walls around the city. The same message was projected as far away as the Flatiron building in New York.

Graphic artist Jean Jullien, meanwhile, laid a sketch of the Eiffel Tower over the 60s-era circular peace symbol that quickly showed

up at pro-France demonstrations in the capital and other cities.

Across France, people turned to books after the attacks, and while 2015 saw a drop in numbers at cinemas and festivals, the figures bounced back last year.

Sales of works by Victor Hugo and other classic authors surged, as did Hemingway’s tribute to Paris, “A Moveable Feast” -- the French title of which translates as “Paris is a Party”.

Even before the spate of attacks 2015 attacks and the Nice truck massacre that followed in July last year, French film-makers were beginning to explore the motives and repercussions of jihadist attacks. AFP

Life TRAVEL AND LEISURE

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

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Street Dance Competition participants danced their way from Panagbenga Park to Melvin Jones

Text and photos: Bernadette Lunas

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IKE the flowers Baguio City celebrates in February, its Panagbenga Festival blooms bigger every year.

Before the flower festival was founded 22 years ago, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan recalled how the local government collected only about P13 to 15 million in business tax. “But when we started this festival, it jumped up to P58 million,” he shared. Thanks to tourists flocking to the City of Pines not only during its month-long festival, but also in summer months and Christmas season.

This year’s Panagbenga Festival has seen larger crowd, more floats and street dance contingents and bigger celebrity guests—despite the small budget allocated for it. The city government, as prescribed by the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI), only allots P4 million for the event, according to Mayor Domogan.

“It is a festival that, despite its magnitude, we are not actually putting a big budget because of our limitation,” he shared.

In fact, the cash prizes for its Grand Float Parade competition, one of the major contests, are smaller compared with the amount participants spend to join. The cost for floats decked with fresh flowers range from P150,000 to P800,000, depending on the size and materials among others. The grand prize meanwhile for the winning float is only P250,000.

Yet, more and grander floats joined in Panagbenga Festival 2017’s parade— all for the honor of joining the event.

“Today there is no question that it was a lot of improvement than the previous float parades,” Mayor Domogan said during an intimate press conference. “I noticed there has been an improvement on the quality and beauty of all the floats that did participate today.”

According to BFFFI co-chairman and Baguio Country Club general manager Anthony De Leon, the float parade is open for everyone, as long as they follow the requirement that is the float should be made of 95 percent fresh flowers.

The festival organization opened a category for small floats this year, in a bid to

The secret to

Panagbenga Festival’s

bloom

THE FESTIVAL TO BE PROUD OF. The 22nd Panagbenga Festival celebrated the rich culture and the blossoming gifts of the Cordillera region to the Philippines and to the world.

The much anticipated Grand Float Parade featured colorful flower floats and popular celebrities and personalities, including AlDub, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, Bea Alonzo, Enchong Dee, Jericho Rosales and Carrot Man Jeyrick Sigmaton

entice small and medium companies and organizations to join. A successful move as a total of 23 floats—the most number of competitors so far—competed for the two categories (Small and Big).

The “Beauty of the Wild” themed flower float of NLEX/SCTEX took home the top spot, while the candy-colored float of Sitel

and the blooming entry of Department of Tourism got the second and third prize, respectively, in the Big Float category.

The roaring tiger on Maybank’s float served as a lucky charm as the bank won first place in Small Float category.

Coca-Cola’s red float bagged the second prize and Asus Zenfone’s entry was

named third place.

Aside from the winning flower floats, some of the participants that received load cheers from the crowd were GMA Regional TV’s float where Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza were on board, Wedding Memories’ which had Carrot Man Jeyrick Sigmaton as passenger,

Tropicana’s which had Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, and ABS-CBN’s float with Enchong Dee and Bea Alonzo.

For the Street Dance competition, on the other hand, the organizers introduced the Open category, wherein participants outside the Cordillera region Turn to D2

RoRo modernization for effective tourism campaign BEING an archipelago, the Philippines needs inter-island connectivity to facilitate domestic trade and tourism movement in the country. This has been achieved with the development of the Philippine Nautical Highway System, using roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels.

An integrated network of highway and vehicular ferry routes connect the major islands of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, the RoRo allows tourists to travel from one island to another to enjoy the magnificent natural wonders of the country, and enhances the accessibility of the prime tourist destinations all over the country.

With the nautical highway system already in place, there is a strong need for safe and efficient seacrafts. Every year, sea accidents happen due to overcrowded, overloaded, old, poorly designed and ill-maintained shipping vessels.

The high incident record of sea mishaps has prompted other countries to release travel advisories warning their citizens visiting the Philippines against taking interisland ferries.

“Every year, our country has been hounded by sea mishaps. Initially, overloading and overcrowding can be the culprit, but if we really look closer, most of these accidents happened due to old, poorly designed, and illmaintained RoRos. If you notice, majority of our RoRo fleet is over 30 years old,” said Southwest Maritime Group of Companies president and CEO Arben Santos.

Santos observed that most RoRo vessels in the country are imported

Modern entertainment on board (inset) among other amenities are available in brand new RoRo vessels.

secondhand. “In Japan, once a RoRo reaches 20 years old, it is no longer allowed to trade in Japanese waters.

These old RoRos made their way to the Philippine shores. But these secondhand RoRos from Japan are not suitable for Philippine waters. Aside from that, some ship owners tend to add another deck to these secondhand

vessels to increase passenger capacity, thereby affecting the ship’s stability” he shared.

Strongly believing that the safety of the passengers is non-negotiable, Santos has been advocating the modernization of the RoRo fleet in the Philippines. He has set his mind to persuade the government, particularly MARI-

NA, to adopt necessary measures such as curbing the importation of 35-yearold secondhand vessels, not allowing old vessels to operate, and strictly implementing international maritime safety standards.

“With the current condition of our fleet, it is an accident waiting to happen. We really should modernize the industry that services thousands of interisland travelers over coastal waters. No secondhand vessels should be imported, unless that vessel is 20 years old and below and has been fully classed by a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). Also, within the given time frame, RoRos older than 35 years

old should not be allowed to operate,” said Santos.

Embarking on a private sector-led RoRo modernization program, he has convinced some ship owners, including the Starlite Ferries Inc. group to stop buying aged secondhand and retrofitted vessels, and invest instead on brand-new ships. Another shipping company, FastCat, is also on its way to modernizing their fleet.

Starlite Ferries put much emphasis on the passenger safety. The company embarked on a new journey, commissioning experts to build ships that meet local coastal area shipping conditions and weather peculiarities.

Turn to D2

Life

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SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Millennials and Tourism MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

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ODAY’S youth has the spending capability and insatiable thirst for exploring and sharing their experiences, redefining the face of tourism through social media which is now teeming with proof of their adventures and other travel stories. We now have a glut of breathtaking photos and cool travel videos of themselves scaling a mountain, diving under the sea, or dashing over green pastures from a very high zipline.

Such diverse travel experiences prove that the young ones have made significant strides in helping make tourism the vibrant industry that it is now. Which is the reason why experts in the industry are now looking at them to put meaning to their sightseeing adventures by practicing Responsible Travel.

Responsible Tourism is, in fact, Sustainable Tourism because it allows tourists to enjoy their presence in an area while creating a positive impact on and enhancing the preservation of such area.

Because many young travelers these days go for authentic experiences, they avail of Homestay, which is a facet of Sustainable Tourism, and allows them to

Former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor (center, in white) together with some of the speakers during the two-day Global Youth Forum

interact with locals, appreciate products schools in the country, the forum also 50th Anniversary.” produced by the community, and under- brought in government officials from The very interesting topics tackled stand the importance of protecting the en- the country’s various regions. The event during the two-day event were: Heritage vironment for future generations to enjoy. pushed forward the United Nations Tourism: Building A Strong Foundation Homestay was just one of the topics World Tourism Organization’s (UN- Through Cultural Preservation, Striking discussed by experts at the A Balance: Ecotourism For recently concluded Global Environmental ConservaYouth Forum which had tion and Rural DevelopYOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE the theme “Youth On Susment, A Match Made in tainable Tourism.” The Heaven: Community De“If you had a dollar,” asked the teacher, “and two-day event, held at the velopment and Tourism, you asked your father for another dollar and fifty Subic Bay Exhibition and Doing Our Part: Responsicents, how much money would you have?” “One Convention Center, was orble Travelling for the Mildollar.” answered little Johnny. “You don’t know your ganized by former Tourism lennial Traveller, and A Basic Math.” said the teacher shaking her head, Secretary Mina Gabor Green Future: Career Opdisappointed. Little Johnny shook his head, too, “You who now heads the Subicportunities in Sustainable don’t know my Daddy.” based International School Development in Tourism. of Sustainable Tourism. It was co-presented by the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Attended by more than 500 students and faculty members of Tourism

WTO) announcement that this year is the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Making it even more significant, the event also celebrated the chairmanship of the Philippines of the upcoming “ASEAN 2017:

I was part of the fourman panel that discussed the last topic. My colleagues in this segment were Jie Cheng Wong from the Pacific Asia Travel Association Headquarters in Bangkok; Rafael Dionisio, co-founder of Make A Difference Travel; and Robert John Horrigan,

vice president of Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines.

The four of us gave various perspectives of job opportunities in the Tourism industry, including those in Sustainable Tourism, which we still do not see in the Classified Ads section of any newspaper.

This is because most of these jobs are highly specialized and require extensive training. As such, they are currently handled by in-house specialists of the various government agencies that deal either with environment preservation, cultural heritage, or conservation of natural resources.

Hopefully, when we make the youth understand and appreciate the value of Sustainable Tourism, they will help us shape the industry, as Responsible Travel gains more traction, making sure that future generations will still be able to enjoy whatever natural and cultural attractions we have today.

I must commend the untiring efforts of former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor who continues to make our country’s Tourism industry keep pace with that of our neighbors and the rest of the world. She is always at the forefront of burning issues in the industry, finding ways to allow those of us involved, to make an informed and valid decision on what our next step should be.

Based on the interaction the students had with the speakers during the Q&A segment, they definitely took to heart what they learned during the two-day event and I overheard some student groups who were already planning their own fora where they could cascade to their schoolmates the important information they obtained from the forum.

With the millennials actively involved, we can now make Sustainable Tourism an important factor in promoting our industry, just like how it is done by our counterparts in the rest of the world. Now, whoever said “Youth is wasted on the young” should eat his heart out. That’s definitely not the case in the Tourism industry.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

Road therapy for families THE idea of Road Therapy has become even more relevant today as traveling has now become a way of life for many Filipino families. The country’s economic growth and the ability to research and book trips online have made travel accessible.

“Whether through planned vacations or spontaneous road trips, travel is now a weekend staple for the Filipinos. This is evident in the steady spike of local tourism as recognized by the Department of Tourism and in our newsfeed on our social media sites,” shared Kenneth Sambajon, Goodyear Philippines’ market director.

He went on to describe the family road trip as a “Magical thing. It’s a shared moment unhindered by daily routine, a precious occasion for open conversation, a common space for a little off-key singing.

It’s a treasured opportunity to create fond new memories and to grow a little closer with the people who matter most.”

It’s not surprising then that Goodyear designed its most innovative SUV tire to date for the mid-size SUV, a favorite for many families and one of the fastest growing segments in the Philippines. And with SUV’s often serving as family cars, safety and dependability are musts.

“A tire for a mid-sized SUV should excel in all the areas that a normal tire should, such as grip, short braking distance and durability. However, it also needs to be exceptional in other areas, specifically wet weather braking and road hazard resistance; because these are the attributes for which many car buyers in the Philippines purchase SUVs, and in turn these are the

RoRo...

From D1

The brand new vessels of Starlite Ferries—Starlite Pioneer and Starlite Reliance, which are both servicing the Roxas-Caticlan route and Starlite Saturn and Starlite Eagle, which take the Batangas-Calapan route—are built with safety in mind.

In modern vessels, the hulls have been waterproofed to enhance stability, and fitted with twin-screw propulsion and bow thruster for efficient maneuvering.

They have AIS transponder, GPS navigator with video plotter, BNWAS for watchkeeping monitoring and Navtex receiver for weather monitoring. CCTV cameras have been installed in strategic locations to further ensure passenger safety. The doors can be sealed to keep the water out during the rainy season.

Starlite Ferries also prioritizes the passenger convenience. The polite and

very attributes that make a vehicle uniquely suited to Philippine driving conditions,” Sambajon described.

And these are the very attributes the new Goodyear Wrangler TripleMax tires excel in—it delivers Superior Braking Performance, Shorter Wet Braking and Road Hazard Resistant features, offering a safer and more fun driving experience with the family.

To help families gear up for the drive, the design of the Goodyear Wrangler TripleMax is reinforced with Goodyear’s proprietary HYDROGRIP Technology, which provides exceptional wet grip through an innovative new tread compound, maximizing control via a larger surface area contact patch which means there is more rubber on the road. It also delivers improved braking ability by way of biting edges with large block elements.

All of these combine to offer a more comfortable ride for families, perfect for road trips whether short or long.

“The Wrangler TripleMax is an ideal choice for today’s discerning driver looking for a safer and more reliable drive that delivers in all weather or road conditions. With its superior wet braking performance, Goodyear is confident that the Wrangler TripleMax will become the choice tire for a safer and more comfortable ride for drivers and their families,” Sambajon said.

For more updates on Wrangler TripleMax Tires, Goodyear is inviting customers to visit www.facebook.com/GoodyearPhilippines or www.goodyear.com.ph.

friendly ship crew welcomes the passengers and assists them on board.

Passengers enjoy the latest state-ofthe-art amenities. In the air-conditioned first class section, passengers travel in style in luxurious reclining seats with arm rests. The business class cabin is also air-conditioned. Budget travelers in the economy class travel in comfortable seating.

Starlite Eagle has a nursery room, perfect for mothers who travel with their babies, as well as playpen for children.

Passengers with medical conditions can stay at the comfortable beds provided specifically for them. The modern vessel also has a helipad for emergency medical evacuation.

As more shipping companies embark on modernization, it will encourage tourism movement. With its affordability and reduced travel time, more and more tourists, both local and foreign, will look at sea travel as another viable option to visit the beautiful islands in

Known for its magnificent architecture, fine cuisine, and a thriving nightlife, Barcelona offers travelers with an exciting getaway this summer via Cathay Pacific.

Airline’s seasonal flights to Barcelona CATHAY PACIFIC recently announced that it will introduce a new four-times weekly seasonal service between Hong Kong and Barcelona starting in July (subject to government approval), offering travelers an exciting getaway destination and directly linking two of the world’s most dynamic cities for the very first time.

The seasonal operation, scheduled throughout the peak travel months until Oct. 27, complements the airline’s existing four-times weekly service to Madrid, meaning Cathay Pacific will soon provide more non-stop flights to Spain from Asia than any other airline.

Barcelona is known for its magnificent architecture where you will find Gothic basilicas, the city’s finest monuments and modern-day buildings all over the area. Its cuisine is a wide-ranging paradise from fresh seafood, delicacies like tapas to decadent chocolates. The nightlife is filled with live music plus dancing and you

the Philippines.

The Philippine tourism will have a much brighter future, with the potentials and development in various areas growing by leaps and bounds. Due to efficient inter-island connectivity, tourist arrival in Boracay from 2003 to 2006 jumped by more than 50 percent, while Iloilo enjoyed a 30 percent increase, and Dapitan, rose by 200 percent.

“Since RoRo began its operation, areas along the nautical highway showed huge boost in tourist arrivals as traveling to the different islands of the Philippines has become more convenient and affordable. And with the modernization of RoRos, we can expect greater tourism movement in the next years.

We also hope that the travel advisories against sea travel in the Philippines issued by other countries would be lifted; hence, more tourists coming,” enthused Santos.

Truly, with the new modern fleet, sea traveling will never be the same again.

can take your pick from nightclubs, old-school taverns or plush lounges.

This vibrant and captivating city is also home to arguably the world’s most successful football team, FC Barcelona, and has established itself as an important business and transportation hub. Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and boasting numerous beaches within easy reach of the city center, over 7.5 million tourists visited Barcelona in 2015, a number that looks set to increase thanks to the introduction of Cathay Pacific’s new service.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Ivan Chu said, “Barcelona is a great city for its tourism and rich culture that attracts visitors from around the world. We’re excited to offer the first-ever direct link between Hong Kong and Barcelona, which follows the launch of our Madrid service last year.” He also adds, “This new service reflects our commitment

The secret...

From D1

can join. Aside from schools and universities in Baguio, there were contingents all the way from La Union, Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya that danced their way from Panagbenga Park to Melvin Jones football grounds.

Winners in the Street Dance contest were Apolinario Mabini Elementary School (Elementary School division), Baguio City National High School (High School division), and Pugo Catholic School (Open division).

De Leon said the decision to open more categories in the two major competitions is aimed to encourage other festivals to join, thus making Panagbenga—the mother of all festivals in Luzon—an inclusive event.

To further deepen ties, Baguio City’s sister cities and municipalities from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Quezon

to grow the Cathay Pacific network and offer customers more choices. It also strengthens Hong Kong’s status as one of the world’s most important aviation hubs.”

To be operated by Cathay Pacific’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the new service gives both business and leisure passengers the fastest, most direct option to Spain’s second most populous city, while also providing passengers from the Iberian Peninsula easier access to key destinations in Asia and Southwest Pacific through the airline’s hub in Hong Kong.

Featuring the airline’s newest products in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class, the A350 encapsulates Cathay Pacific’s brand promise of a “Life Well Travelled.”

In addition to the latest seats and an enhanced inflight entertainment system, the aircraft is Wi-Fi equipped, meaning passengers can stay connected throughout their journey.

Province, Isabela, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur also joined in the parade.

The month-long festivities were once again successful and well attended.

Considering that a rough estimate of two million watched the two major events, the festival went on orderly— a large part of it thanks to the crowd control team composed of Baguio City Police, Criminology students of University of Cordilleras and University of Baguio, Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts, and other civic organizations.

“For me, the success of this festival is if we are able to make people feel this is their festival, and they feel happy that they can contribute, (Panagbenga) will go on,” enthused Mayor Domogan.

Mayor Domogan, De Leon and the rest of the organizers believe that the essence of Panagbenga is the pride and honor it brings to the people—in and out of Cordillera region—who work hard to make it a blooming festival as the years go by.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

Beauty pageant gives contestants’ Q&A more weight BINIBINING Pilipinas Charities Inc., this early, assured beauty enthusiasts, supporters and patrons that this year’s edition of the Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant will give bigger score to the interview portion, a.ka. the Q&A. “With what we have seen and witnessed from international pageants, we need to address this issue. Not that we fail to train our beauties in that aspect, but it will become a natural thing if all of these beauties have this “natural ability” to answer questions,” some patrons expressed.

That is why the rigid screening for this year’s batch lasted for hours as the screening committee gave more weight to the interview portion.

But the question many observers asked when they saw those who asked questions, “How sure are they that they can choose the brightest considering that some of those that interviewed these ladies had the same problems and issues?”

Whewww...too early for bashing huh!? ***** Among the popular names that made it to the top 40 in the Binibining Pilipinas list include Mariel de Leon, daughter of actors Boyet de leon and Sandy Andolong, Channel Olive Thomas, actor Jake Cuenca’s ex who was a Miss Earth finalist, Jehza Mae Huelar (second runner-up in last year’s pageant), and Miss World Philippines 4th Princess Rachel Peters.

This year’s batch was from almost a hundred aspirants later been trimmed to 55, until the top 40 has been chosen. They are composed mainly of repeaters, winners from other pageants and top graduates of schools here and abroad who can speak several languages.

The following are the official contestants who are chosen for beauty, poise, intelligence, wit, humor and talent, according to those that screened: Ana Patricia Asturias, Leitz Camyll M. Ang, Jessica M. Ramirez, Dane Felisse R. Marasigan, Mae Lanie Chan, Arienne Louise Braga Calingo, Maria Gail Devora Tobes, Gabriela Patricia M. Ortega, Katarina Sonja A. Rodriguez, Joselle S. Mariano, Kristi Rose D. Cequeña, Rachel Peters, Maria Camille P. Manalo, Jennyline Carla F. Malpaya, Vanessa N. SalibaJuliana M. Kapeundl, Ma. Bejieleen T. Nama, Thoreen D. Halvosen, Sarah Jireh C. Asido, Arah A. Salientes, Beatrice O. Valente, Mae Liezel J. Ramos, Larah Grace Lacap, Clarice Marion E. Villareal, Chanel Olive V. Thomas, Nelda C. Ibe, Christagale Borja, Ruffa Nava, Angelique Celine L. De Leon, Jamaica Elysse D. Ambal, Karla May R. Manongsong, Dindi Joy Pajares, Kimberly L. Pajares, Maria Angelica A. De Leon, Sirene Sutton, Charmaine F. Elima, Jehza Mae Huelar, Elizabeth Durado Clenci, Kristel N. Guelos, and Sammie Anne L. Legaspi There will be six titles to be won – Miss Universe Philippines, Bb Pilipinas International, Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental, Bb Pilipinas Supranational, Miss Globes Philippines, and Bb Pilipinas Grand International.

These gorgeous and smart ladies actually expect to match or even exceed the achievements of the previous batches before them.

Coronation will be in April. So, stay tuned as we will again witness how crazy Pinoys are when it comes to beauty contests. ***** Maybe his intention is to be very honest, but some quarters are saying that he could have made it discreet.

We are talking about papa Piolo Pascual’s honesty in answering question about his film Northern Stars (A Journey to Love).

The very good-looking actor directly stated that they indeed were not able to shoot the “real” Northern Stars or Aurora Borealis, instead shot the Southern Stars seen where the film’s location was. So, can we blame papa P for being honest and truthful, especially that he is one of the film’s producers?

The Northern Stars phenomenon, seen in the Northern Hemisphere every so often time was not seen in New Zealand, where most of their scenes were taken. But as papa P stated, “Though it bears the same title as it has a major part in the story, I have to tell you guys that everything in the film is so real. We have a very beautiful love story, sceneries and locations. Ibang-iba ito sa lahat ng nagawa ko na. Bago sa mata at pakiramdam, just like the phenomenon of Aurora Borealis which is very colorful.”

Working for the first time with Yen Santos, a product of realityshow, Piolo describes the experience as “noteworthy and new.”

“Noon ko pa kilala si Yen and I am an admirer of her innocentlooking face, very sweet and natural. Iba ang ganda niya. And then I was able to witness her being so kind and professional.

Ang feeling ko mauulit ang samahan namin,” added Piolo of her leading lady.

Northern Stars (A Journey to Love) is a Regal Films offering but it will be marketed and promoted by Star Cinema, the home network of Piolo, Yen and even by the child star Raikko Mateo, who completes the “family love angle,” of the film.

This is directed by Dondon Santos and will be shown on March 29.

L

OCK and load as Smilegate, through wholly owned subsidiary GBPlay, brings a new gaming breakthrough to the CrossFire franchise.

CrossFire’s never-ending stream of new content, which has made it the FPS (firstperson shooter) of choice for millions of players, now breaks new ground with Project Mocha. Project Mocha is the first of its kind, a game update placing the likeness of a real-life celebrity right into the blazing action.

A perfect fit for the FPS title, fiery dancer-model-blogger Mocha Uson was chosen to be the inspiration for the new character skin, which will be initially available exclusively to Filipino gamers.

“We chose Mocha because of the innate fierceness in her attitude. She strikes us as the kind of person who could kick butt on the battlefield without breaking a sweat and still looking absolutely great right afterwards,” said the product manager of Crossfire.

The popular FPS, with its adrenaline rush of close encounters and fast-paced play, has made it a staple of the gaming genre.

Play as Black List, a secret mercenary organization, or as Global Risk, an extensive military organization and eliminate the other side using the game’s selection of weapons to claim victory for your faction. Use your wins to climb the game’s ranking system, and be the best soldier you can be.

Graced by Mocha Uson herself along with her long-time singing and dancing group, the Mocha Girls, the Project Mocha Character Launch was held recently at the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura.

Project Mocha is available online to Philippine servers and other countries.

For more information and updates, visit the CF official website: www.crossfire.ph / www. crossfirestars.com

Popular online tactical first-person shooter CrossFire creates a character for an online game inspired by its local ambassador, Mocha Uson.

MANY of us might know senior film and television director and chance. So, here I am now.”

With his return to the classroom, he kept an open mind, scriptwriter Jose Javier Reyes for his award-winning films and toprating TV shows, but for his students at De La Salle-College of Saint behaving like a sponge, absorbing as much from his students as Benilde (DLS-CSB), he is known for being in touch with the ideas they from him.

“As a teacher, you must be adept to these changes, and see that the and concerns of millennials, a trait that has helped him come up with view of these kids is completely different from the environment as the stories in his many projects.

Reyes, a Filmmaking fellow at Benilde, says teaching keeps him in it was when I was a student in college and graduate school. That is why constant learning must take place in order to be relevant to your touch with today’s trends and viewpoints.

“Why do I teach? Because I want to keep on learning,” Reyes students whose perspectives are completely determined by so many declared. “And the only way for me to be in touch with my audience factors around them,” he said.

The experience has also made him realize that schools are multiis to be with them, to immerse myself in their world, and to grasp the way they think, the way they look at what’s around them. A professor’s faceted, its students representing a microcosm of today’s society. And learning never ceases. And as media practitioner, it is important that I this shows in what they bring to the classroom.

“Definitely there are unique ideas from Benilde kids,” he know my audience. It is important that I can relate to Katy Perry and stressed. “There is also that distinction between the kind of Taylor Swift, as I can appreciate Virginia Woolf and Edna St. Benilde students you have—the haves and the have-nots, the Vincent Millay.” privileged and the scholars. It shows in the stories they tell.

He gave up a budding career as a teacher at De La Salle You know who has no interaction outside the securityUniversity (DLSU) in 1984 to pursue his passion. He guarded gates of their abodes from the kids who literally started out as a scriptwriter for television and film, before brave the MRT every morning to get to Vito Cruz for moving on as director. He was the writer behind longtheir classes.” running sitcoms, including Palibhasa Lalaki, starring “But filmmaking is the great equalizer. It is not then rising hunks Richard Gomez and Joey Marquez. a matter of having or not having. It is a question of From TV, he moved on to film and prospered from his passion, talent and dedication,” he added. association with some of the country’s leading lights in As an industry senior, he has only one advice from his cinema. students: “I demand that they be brave.”

“My knowledge of the field came from working as a writer Reyes is quick to emphasize that many of today’s for great Filipino directors, like Lino Brocka, Ishmael students are conversant with the latest in film Bernal, Peque Gallaga, Maryo J. de los Reyes, and and digital technologies, a blessing to many of Marilou Abaya,” he said. “I have practically today’s budding filmmakers. worked with every veteran director ahead of “The students are brave because they me, except for Mike de Leon.” have the technology that has become their He won awards at the Gawad Urian, second nature,” he said. “Millennials are Metro Manila Film Festival and Star digital natives compared to the generations Awards for his films, including Pahiram before them who were digital immigrants. ng Isang Umaga, Batang PX, and Kasal, My generation and the next learned the Kasali, Kasalo. As of last count, he has computer, but the millennials were born over 28 awards and 60 nominations. with a keyboard attached to their hands.

Reyes was invited to teach again “What is important is that you let when DLSU celebrated its centennial. them find their voices and be brave in “And when I returned, I realized how discovering their voices. That way, much I missed interacting with young filmmaking in this country will evolve, people. I never gave it up, and when with each generation reconstructing and Jag Garcia posted an opening in the resurrecting their power of narratives,” DigiFilm Program at the School of he explained.

Design and Arts (SDA), I grabbed the Director and scriptwriter Joey Reyes

Saturday, March 4, 2017

brother 57 Chinese dynasty 58 More coquettish 60 Up in arms 65 NASA counterpart 66 “The Velvet Fog” 67 Of ships 68 Pitcher — Maglie 69 Bill and coo 70 Nail-groomer DOWN 1 Small shots 2 Back muscle, for short 3 Mont. neighbor 4 Dugout VIP 5 Xerxes ruled here 6 Clip wool 7 Woolen caps 8 Mellow-toned 9 Luau strings 10 Granola kin 11 Yields territory 12 Unwritten tests 13 With dry humor 21 Griffin of game shows 23 Orange crater 24 Amazon port 25 January, in Lima 26 Fictional bell town 27 Visibility aid

CELEBRITY GAME

‘Filmmaking is a great equalizer’—Joey Reyes

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Stadium hoverer 6 Play guitar 11 Intimidate 14 Deputy’s need 15 Ryokan’s poetry 16 Be off base 17 Beatle drummer 18 Game-show host 19 Bad hair — 20 Flop’s opposite 22 Fainting — 24 More glittery 28 Posh 29 Win over 30 Doric’s cousin 32 Chlorophyll repository 33 Meat avoider 35 Zen riddle 39 Mr. Rubik 40 Sitcom alien 41 Grease gun target 42 Synthesizer inventor 43 Vampire repellent 45 Arizona river 46 Painter’s ground 48 Gardener, often 50 “Pogo” alligator 53 Horse-drawn carriages 54 Stock holding 55 Fairy tale

Mocha in new

28 All-news sta.

30 Ice structure 31 Louts 34 Headset, to hams 36 Rust or patina 37 Cul-de-sac 38 Comes closer and closer 43 Iowa hrs.

44 Crawled, perhaps 47 Puts up 49 Fur of kings 50 Hibachi residue

51 Lofty capital 52 Hackneyed 53 Dangerous woman 55 Pita treat 56 San — (Riviera resort) 59 Dinny’s rider 61 Play bumpercars 62 Hail, to Caesar 63 La Brea — Pits 64 Famous cathedral town

with all your friends.

For those who really want a continuous chika experience, KTRICALL10 will give you allday calls to Globe, and TM for one day. Perfect for getting to know crushie a little better. The conversation can keep on going and there’s no need to re-load or worry about running out.

ABS-CBNmobile sim cards are available at the ABS-CBNmobile Store in the ABS-CBN compound, SM Department Stores, 7-11 and Mini Stop branches nationwide, Load Central branches, ULoad Branches, and Load Extreme.

Subscribe to the Kapamilya Trinet promos and let the sharing begin. *** Summer is here. Have you ironed out your plans on how to spend it well? The World of Gandang Ricky Reyes (TWGRR) host Ricky Reyes will show you where to go and what to do this season.

Visit Golden Sunset Resort in Calatagan Batangas, perfect for family outings.

Whether on the beach or swimming pool, find the best summer swimwear to suit your personality.

For Mommies who want to get back in shape in time for summer, make-over doctor Renee Valerio has good news.

Be amazed at the transformation of Julia’s super kinky hair through Magic Re-Gold.

Following the grand launch of “Type ng Bayan’’ in Mandaluyong City and Pasig City, Paranaque City follows suit giving free blood typing to its residents.

All these and more in The World of Gandang Ricky Reyes, 9 to 10 a.m. on GMA News TV today.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

Advocacy drama "Someone To Watch Over Me" is the lone Asian nominee in the Telenovela Category at the New York Festival's World's Best TV and Films

KAPUSO LEADS PHILIPPINES’ NOMINATIONS at New York Festivals G MA Network takes majority of Philippine ISAH V. RED finalists in the 2017 New York Festivals’ “World’s Best TV and Films” Competition, with six shortlisted entries.

Once again, the Kapuso Network’s news and public affairs programs lead this year’s nominations.

Both gunning for the win in the Community Portraits category are award-winning programs Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (“Gintong Medalya” episode) and Reporter’s Notebook (“Pasan-Pasang Pangarap episode).

Front Row is shortlisted again this year, this time in the Human Concerns category for its “Bata sa Bintana” episode.

Earning a nod from the New York Festivals as well is GMA’s top-rating primetime series Someone To Watch Over Me. Nominated in the Telenovelas category, the series featured the story of a wife’s unwavering love for her husband suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

It starred Tom Rodriguez, Max Collins, and Lovi Poe. Meanwhile, GMA News TV programs Investigative Documentaries and Reel Time received nominations, too.

Investigative Documentaries’ “PAAralan” is shortlisted in the Community Portraits category. Reel Time’s “Maling Akala”, on the other hand, is nominated for National/ International Affairs award.

Last year, GMA was the only Philippine company that won in the New York Festival’s “World’s Best TV and Films” competition, bringing home four world medals— courtesy of I-Witness, Reporter’s Notebook, Front Row, and Reel Time—and five finalist certificates.

Kapuso broadcast journalist Kara David was also one of the award presenters at the awards ceremony held in Las Vegas.

*** The hosts of the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga were all out in their support for the Alden Richards - Maine Mendoza primetime daily soap, Destined To Be Yours.

The Eat Bulaga ”dabarkads” went out of their way to post their support for their fellow Bulaga stars’ debut on primetime TV on their social media accounts, among whom were Bae-by Baste, Pia Guanio, Ruby Rodriguez, Pauleen Luna and Ryza Mae Dizon on Instagram. They chimed in their posts that they are proud of their fellow “dabarkads” for what they have been able to reach thus far.

The fans of the two, along with the “dabarkads”, agree that they, in the early episodes this week, were enveloped with kilig for the AlDub pair. Though in the story they haven’t met yet, the anticipation is running high. And the fans are waiting for the momentous situation when the two finally meet. Next week, perhaps? *** It’s hard to keep feelings bottled up especially when watching the exciting kilig scenes of A Love To Last.

Good thing you don’t have

to With ABS-CBN Mobile’s Kapamilya Trinet Promos you can share the kilig, the tears, the anger, and the laughter from all your favorite Kapamilya shows even to your friends and loved ones on Globe and TM. ABS-CBN Mobile, the exclusive mobile sim card of ABS-CBN, wants you to be able to share your thoughts and feelings about the latest in showbiz news with those that matter most to you.

The rivalry between Totoy (Xian Lim) and Anton (Ian Veneracion) for Andeng (Bea Alonzo) is reaching peak level. Who better to share the kilig and excitement with than with your beshie. Talk on the phone while watching A Love To Last and text the whole day after for only P15 with KTRINET15.

For as low as P5 per day, KTRITEXT5 will give you all-day text to ABS-CBNmobile, Globe, and TM valid for one day. That’s a whole day of keeping in touch with those that matter to you. If that’s not enough, the KTRITEXT40, allows for seven days of unlimited texts to ABS-CBNmobile, Globe, and TM all for P40. This is perfect for staying up to date with the barkada on the last week of the housemates in Pinoy Big Brother. Discuss the latest workshop developments inside Kuya’s house

Television host and beauty guru Ricky Reyes

The buzz on some of the Philippines’

MOST FAMOUS ‘I DO’S’

Kaye Abad and Jake Castillo's special moment immortalized in a photo

FOLLOWING the local celebrity wedding circuit? Odds are those shots were taken by Nice Print Photography. The name has long since been associated with extravagant (i.e. star-studded!) weddings and exotic destination shoots. To name a few, some of their famous wedding coverage include the surprise union of Zoren Legaspi and Carmina Villaroel, the “royal wedding” of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, the four seasons-themed feat of John Prats and Isabel Oli, the second time around of Camille Prats with Jake Yambao, and the Cebu wedding of Kaye Abad and Paul Jake Castillo.

You could say their portfolio isn’t lacking any star power.

Come and celebrate 30 editions of the biggest and most comprehensive wedding fair in the country, Themes & Motifs, as it opens the 2017 wedding fair season with a Half-A-Million Peso Promo for soon-to-weds booking their suppliers during the event.

Known as Asia’s biggest wedding wonderland, Wedding Expo

Philippines will cover the entire ground floor of SMX Mall of Asia on March 18 and 19. Free e-tickets for all-day access to the exhibits and grand sale of wedding-related products and services are available to soon-to-weds pre-registered through www.themesnmotifs.com.

Nice Print is one of the major exhibitors, among more than 420 participating wedding suppliers under one roof.

For the jet-setting crowd, you’ll be pleased to know that the Nice Print team has traveled the world to take memorable shots in places like UAE, USA, Japan, Korea, Europe, Australia, and more. These glamorous pictures beg to ask, “Does the subject or setting make the great photo?”

Um… Not entirely. While the people and places featured in the photos are often of the hot topic variety, it’s the romantic tone synonymous with Nice Print that keeps the soon-to-weds constantly flocking to them. Their smart eye when it comes colors and light

produces pictures that are either soft and sensual or vivid and animated.

Even when the weddings have simpler set-ups, that aesthetic remains consistent. With both ends of the spectrum represented, the output is anything but mediocre!

Want to have celebapproved wedding pics with the value-formoney factor? Nice Print offers promos to sweeten the deal for you. They currently have the following freebies: SDE (sameday-edit) videos, LCD projector for the venue, and the Nice Print app you can download.

Camille Prats and John Yambao tied the knot early this year